Shares Outstanding (EOP) are shares that have been authorized, issued, and purchased by investors and are held by them.
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. A positive ratio may indicate share buybacks over the period, while a zero or negative ratio may reflect no repurchases or potential share issuance. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was -0.40%.
The historical rank and industry rank for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio or its related term are showing as below:
NGVC'
s 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: -1 Med: -0.3 Max: 0.2
Current: -0.4
During the past 13 years, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's highest 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio was 0.20%. The lowest was -1.00%. And the median was -0.30%.
NGVC's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is ranked worse than 56.99% of 193
companies
in the Retail - Defensive industry
Industry Median: -0.1
vs NGVC: -0.40
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Explanation
A negative number means the company might be issuing new shares. A positive number indicates that the company is buying back shares.
Be Aware
Investors usually like share buybacks. But as pointed by Warren Buffett, only if a company buys back shares at the prices below the stock's intrinsic value, it rewards remaining shareholders. If a company buys its overvalued stocks back, it destroys shareholder value.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Related Terms
NGVC vs YSWY, VLGEA, DNUT: 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Comparison
For the Grocery Stores subindustry, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio, along with its competitors' market caps and 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio vs Retail - Defensive Industry
For the Retail - Defensive industry and Consumer Defensive sector, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio falls into.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio Calculation
This is the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. The annualized percentage change is calculated with expontential compound based on the latest four years of annual data on Shares Outstanding (EOP).
Please click Growth Rate Calculation Example (GuruFocus) to see how GuruFocus calculates Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT)'s revenue growth rate. You can apply the same method to get the average dividends per share growth rate.
What does a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of -0.40 mean?
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC) has a 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio of -0.40 as of Mar. 2026. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and its competitors. According to the industry distribution chart, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage ranks #110 out of 193 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, placing it in the top 57%.
Is Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio too high?
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.40. Based on the distribution chart, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage ranks #110 out of 193 companies in the Retail - Defensive industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has a GF Score™ of 87/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio compare to YSWY and VLGEA?
According to the Retail - Defensive industry distribution chart, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage ranks #110 out of 193 companies for 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio. This places Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage in the lower half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio for a Retail - Defensive company?
A good 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio depends on the Retail - Defensive industry context. However, 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio mean?
A high 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. The 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio measures the average annual proportion of a company's outstanding shares repurchased over the past three years. It is calculated as the annualized percentage change in shares outstanding from three years ago to the current year. View historical data for Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage and its competitors. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.40. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $27.36, compared to a current price of $32.47 — trading 18.7% above its estimated fair value. The current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.40. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage's overall GF Score™ is 87/100 with 2 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio calculated?
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC), the current 3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is -0.40 as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $32.47 is trading 18.7% above its estimated GF Value™ of $27.36.
GuruFocus considers Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for NGVC:
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio: -0.40
GF Value™: $27.36 vs. price of $32.47 (18.7% above fair value)
No single metric tells the full story. See the NGVC stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Business Description
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc operates natural and organic grocery and dietary supplement stores. It offers the following product categories: natural and organic food, dietary supplements, natural body care, household, pet care products, books, and handouts. The Company has a single reporting segment, natural and organic retail stores, through which business is conducted. The company generates the majority of its revenue from grocery products and dietary supplements, and the rest from other products.
87GF Score
Get the complete analysis for NGVC
3-Year Share Buyback Ratio is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.
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