Ingles Markets (IMKTA) vs Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Ingles Markets (IMKTA) has outperformed Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC) over the past year, gaining 19.6% versus a loss of 24.2%. Over five years, NGVC leads with a +158.3% price change compared with +27.0% for IMKTA. Ingles Markets is the larger company by market cap ($1.63 billion vs $693.2 million), about 2.3 times the size.
On valuation, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage trades at a lower forward P/E (12.9x vs 18.2x for Ingles Markets). Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage offers the higher dividend yield (1.89% vs 0.77%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | IMKTA | NGVC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $85.59 | $30.08 |
| Market cap | $1.63B | $693.22M |
| 1-day change | +0.69% | +0.13% |
| YTD return | +24.25% | +20.08% |
| 1-year return | +19.60% | -24.16% |
| 5-year return | +27.02% | +158.30% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 15.59 | 14.67 |
| Forward P/E | 18.21 | 12.95 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.49 | $2.05 |
| Dividend yield | 0.77% | 1.89% |
| Annual dividend | $0.66 | $0.57 |
| 52-week high | $95.62 | $41.07 |
| 52-week low | $67.11 | $23.47 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -10.49% | -26.76% |
| Analyst consensus | — | none |
| Avg. price target upside | — | +40.46% |
| Average volume | 115.77K | 141.03K |
| Shares outstanding | 14.55M | 23.05M |
| Employees | 12,152 | 3,455 |
| Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Staples |
| Industry | Food Chains | Food Chains |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- Ingles Markets is about 2.3 times larger than Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by market value ($1.63B vs $693.22M).
- IMKTA has outperformed NGVC by 43.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.89% vs 0.77%).
About Ingles Markets
IMKTA stock →Ingles Markets, Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, operates a chain of supermarkets in the United States. The company offers food products, such as grocery, meat, and dairy products, produce, frozen food, and other perishables; and non-food products, which include fuel centers, pharmacies, health and beauty care products, and general merchandise, as well as private label items, organic, and locally sourced items.
Consumer Staples · Food Chains · 12,152 employees
About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
NGVC stock →Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, retails natural and organic groceries, and dietary supplements in the United States. The company's stores offer natural and organic grocery products, such as organic produce; private label repackaged bulk products, including dried fruits, nuts, grains, granolas, teas, herbs, and spices, as well as peanut and almond butters; private label products comprising grocery staples, household products, bulk foods, and vitamins and dietary supplements, as well as organic eggs, organic flavored coffee, and organic mustard; dry, frozen, and canned groceries; meat and seafood products; dairy products, dairy substitutes, and eggs; prepared foods; bread and baked products; beverages; and beer, wine, and hard cider products.
Consumer Staples · Food Chains · 3,455 employees
IMKTA vs NGVC FAQ
Which is bigger, Ingles Markets or Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage?
Ingles Markets (IMKTA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.63B compared with $693.22M for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, IMKTA or NGVC?
IMKTA returned +19.60% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.16% for NGVC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, IMKTA or NGVC?
NGVC has the lower trailing P/E at 14.7, versus 15.6 for IMKTA. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ingles Markets or Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage?
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has the higher yield at 1.89%, compared with 0.77% for Ingles Markets.
Are Ingles Markets and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Food Chains industry within the Consumer Staples sector.