Kroger (KR) 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 8, 2026.
Summary
Kroger (KR) has outperformed Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC) over the past year, losing 11.4% versus a loss of 23.2%. Over five years, NGVC leads with a +158.3% price change compared with +53.5% for KR. Kroger is the larger company by market cap ($34.99 billion vs $692.3 million), about 50.5 times the size.
On valuation, Kroger trades at a lower forward P/E (10.8x vs 12.9x for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage). Kroger offers the higher dividend yield (2.43% vs 1.90%).
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 | KR | NGVC |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $59.25 | $30.04 |
| Market cap | $34.99B | $692.30M |
| 1-day change | +1.44% | +0.67% |
| YTD return | -5.17% | +19.92% |
| 1-year return | -11.41% | -23.15% |
| 5-year return | +53.54% | +158.30% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 32.38 | 14.58 |
| Forward P/E | 10.76 | 12.93 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.83 | $2.06 |
| Dividend yield | 2.43% | 1.90% |
| Annual dividend | $1.44 | $0.57 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $147.64B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +0.35% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.02B | — |
| Gross margin | 23.30% | — |
| Operating margin | 1.28% | — |
| Net margin | 0.69% | — |
| 52-week high | $76.58 | $41.07 |
| 52-week low | $54.15 | $23.47 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -22.63% | -26.86% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +15.31% | +40.65% |
| Average volume | 7.14M | 142.21K |
| Shares outstanding | 590.59M | 23.05M |
| Employees | 400,000 | 3,455 |
| Sector | Consumer Staples | Consumer Defensive |
| Industry | Food Chains | Grocery Stores |
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
- Kroger is about 50.5 times larger than Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by market value ($34.99B vs $692.30M).
- KR has outperformed NGVC by 11.7 percentage points over the past year.
- Kroger trades at a higher earnings multiple (32.4x vs 14.6x trailing P/E).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Kroger in Consumer Staples and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in Consumer Defensive.
About Kroger
KR stock →The Kroger Co. operates as a food and drug retailer in the United States.
Consumer Staples · Food Chains · 400,000 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 Defensive · Grocery Stores · 3,455 employees
KR vs NGVC FAQ
Which is bigger, Kroger or Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage?
Kroger (KR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $34.99B compared with $692.30M for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, KR or NGVC?
KR returned -11.41% over the past 12 months, compared with -23.15% for NGVC (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, KR or NGVC?
NGVC has the lower trailing P/E at 14.6, versus 32.4 for KR. 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, Kroger or Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage?
Kroger has the higher yield at 2.43%, compared with 1.90% for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage.
Are Kroger and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in the same industry?
No. Kroger is in the Consumer Staples sector, while Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage is in Consumer Defensive.