Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC) vs Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC) has outperformed Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) over the past year, losing 23.2% versus a loss of 36.5%. Over five years, SFM leads with a +195.2% price change compared with +158.3% for NGVC. Sprouts Farmers Market is the larger company by market cap ($6.16 billion vs $696.0 million), about 8.8 times the size.
On valuation, Sprouts Farmers Market trades at a lower forward P/E (11.1x vs 13.0x for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage). Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage pays a dividend yielding 1.89%, while Sprouts Farmers Market does not currently pay one.
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 | NGVC | SFM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $30.20 | $66.01 |
| Market cap | $695.98M | $6.16B |
| 1-day change | +0.53% | +1.15% |
| YTD return | +19.92% | -18.09% |
| 1-year return | -23.15% | -36.54% |
| 5-year return | +158.30% | +195.16% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 14.73 | 12.62 |
| Forward P/E | 13.00 | 11.09 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.05 | $5.23 |
| Dividend yield | 1.89% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.57 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $8.81B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +14.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | — | $523.67M |
| Gross margin | — | 38.80% |
| Operating margin | — | 7.79% |
| Net margin | — | 5.95% |
| 52-week high | $41.07 | $114.34 |
| 52-week low | $23.47 | $61.88 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -26.47% | -42.27% |
| Analyst consensus | none | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +39.90% | +41.75% |
| Average volume | 141.04K | 1.95M |
| Shares outstanding | 23.05M | 93.25M |
| Employees | 3,455 | 36,000 |
| 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
- Sprouts Farmers Market is about 8.8 times larger than Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage by market value ($6.16B vs $695.98M).
- NGVC has outperformed SFM by 13.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.89% vs 0.00%).
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
About Sprouts Farmers Market
SFM stock →Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retailing of fresh, natural, and organic food products in the United States. The company operates healthy grocery stores; and lifestyle-friendly ingredients, such as organic, plant-based, keto, paleo, non-GMO, and gluten-free.
Consumer Staples · Food Chains · 36,000 employees
NGVC vs SFM FAQ
Which is bigger, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage or Sprouts Farmers Market?
Sprouts Farmers Market (SFM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $6.16B compared with $695.98M for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NGVC or SFM?
NGVC returned -23.15% over the past 12 months, compared with -36.54% for SFM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NGVC or SFM?
SFM has the lower trailing P/E at 12.6, versus 14.7 for NGVC. 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, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage or Sprouts Farmers Market?
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage pays a dividend yielding 1.89%, while Sprouts Farmers Market does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and Sprouts Farmers Market in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Food Chains industry within the Consumer Staples sector.