Natural Grocers Logs 1.6% Q1 Sales Growth, Buy Rating with $36 Target
Freedom Capital initiated coverage on Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage with a Buy rating and $36 price target. In fiscal Q1 2026, the company reported net sales of $335.6 million (up 1.6%), net income of $11.3 million (up 14%) and plans its first Wisconsin store in Lake Geneva this spring.
1. Freedom Capital Initiates Coverage
Freedom Capital initiated coverage of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage with a Buy rating and set a $36 price target on February 13, highlighting the company’s defensive positioning in natural and organic food retail and stable demand for wellness products and dietary supplements.
2. Fiscal Q1 2026 Financial Results
For the fiscal first quarter, Natural Grocers reported net sales of $335.6 million, a 1.6% year-over-year increase, daily average comparable store sales growth of 1.7% (10.6% on a two-year basis), and net income of $11.3 million, up 14%, yielding diluted earnings per share of $0.49.
3. Expansion into Wisconsin
Natural Grocers will open its first Wisconsin store in Lake Geneva this spring, marking its entry into a new state and extending its geographic footprint beyond its existing regional markets.