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Side-by-side financial comparison of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NGVC) and STAR GROUP, L.P. (SGU). Click either name above to swap in a different company.

STAR GROUP, L.P. is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($539.3M vs $335.6M, roughly 1.6× Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.). STAR GROUP, L.P. runs the higher net margin — 6.6% vs 3.4%, a 3.3% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, STAR GROUP, L.P. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (10.5% vs 1.6%). Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($11.6M vs $-59.7M).

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. is a U.S.-based specialty retail chain that offers certified organic groceries, dietary supplements, natural personal care items, and eco-friendly household products. It serves health-conscious consumers across multiple U.S. states, following strict quality standards that exclude artificial preservatives, colors, flavors and harmful additives.

Lone Star Funds, legal name of main entity Lone Star Global Acquisitions, Ltd. is a global private equity firm that invests in corporate equity, real estate, credit, and other financial assets. The founder of Lone Star established its first fund in 1995 and Lone Star has to date organized 25 private equity funds with total capital commitments since inception of over $95 billion. Lone Star's investors include corporate and public pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, university endowments, fo...

NGVC vs SGU — Head-to-Head

Bigger by revenue
SGU
SGU
1.6× larger
SGU
$539.3M
$335.6M
NGVC
Growing faster (revenue YoY)
SGU
SGU
+8.9% gap
SGU
10.5%
1.6%
NGVC
Higher net margin
SGU
SGU
3.3% more per $
SGU
6.6%
3.4%
NGVC
More free cash flow
NGVC
NGVC
$71.3M more FCF
NGVC
$11.6M
$-59.7M
SGU

Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q1 FY2026

Metric
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Revenue
$335.6M
$539.3M
Net Profit
$11.3M
$35.8M
Gross Margin
29.5%
Operating Margin
4.4%
10.1%
Net Margin
3.4%
6.6%
Revenue YoY
1.6%
10.5%
Net Profit YoY
14.0%
8.8%
EPS (diluted)
$0.49

Green = leading value per metric. Periods may differ when fiscal calendars don't align.

8-Quarter Revenue & Profit Trend

Side-by-side quarterly history. Quarters aligned by calendar period so offset fiscal years line up.

Revenue
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$335.6M
$539.3M
Q3 25
$336.1M
Q2 25
$328.7M
Q1 25
$335.8M
Q4 24
$330.2M
Q3 24
$322.7M
Q2 24
$309.1M
Q1 24
$308.1M
Net Profit
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$11.3M
$35.8M
Q3 25
$11.8M
Q2 25
$11.6M
Q1 25
$13.1M
Q4 24
$9.9M
Q3 24
$9.0M
Q2 24
$9.2M
Q1 24
$8.0M
Gross Margin
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
29.5%
Q3 25
29.5%
Q2 25
29.9%
Q1 25
30.3%
Q4 24
29.9%
Q3 24
29.6%
Q2 24
29.2%
Q1 24
29.3%
Operating Margin
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
4.4%
10.1%
Q3 25
4.6%
Q2 25
4.7%
Q1 25
5.2%
Q4 24
4.0%
Q3 24
3.7%
Q2 24
4.2%
Q1 24
3.7%
Net Margin
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
3.4%
6.6%
Q3 25
3.5%
Q2 25
3.5%
Q1 25
3.9%
Q4 24
3.0%
Q3 24
2.8%
Q2 24
3.0%
Q1 24
2.6%
EPS (diluted)
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$0.49
Q3 25
$0.51
Q2 25
$0.50
Q1 25
$0.56
Q4 24
$0.43
Q3 24
$0.38
Q2 24
$0.40
Q1 24
$0.35

Balance Sheet & Financial Strength

Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.

Metric
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand
$23.2M
$19.9M
Total DebtLower is stronger
$254.8M
Stockholders' EquityBook value
$220.0M
Total Assets
$668.6M
$1.1B
Debt / EquityLower = less leverage

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Cash + ST Investments
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$23.2M
$19.9M
Q3 25
$17.1M
Q2 25
$13.2M
Q1 25
$21.2M
Q4 24
$6.3M
Q3 24
$8.9M
Q2 24
$13.9M
Q1 24
$11.0M
Total Debt
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$254.8M
Q3 25
Q2 25
Q1 25
Q4 24
Q3 24
Q2 24
Q1 24
Stockholders' Equity
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$220.0M
Q3 25
$212.4M
Q2 25
$202.5M
Q1 25
$193.0M
Q4 24
$181.9M
Q3 24
$174.3M
Q2 24
$167.8M
Q1 24
$160.0M
Total Assets
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$668.6M
$1.1B
Q3 25
$670.5M
Q2 25
$659.0M
Q1 25
$664.6M
Q4 24
$648.9M
Q3 24
$655.5M
Q2 24
$654.4M
Q1 24
$656.6M

Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency

How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.

Metric
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Operating Cash FlowLast quarter
$21.1M
$-55.2M
Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex
$11.6M
$-59.7M
FCF MarginFCF / Revenue
3.4%
-11.1%
Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue
2.9%
0.8%
Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit
1.86×
-1.54×
TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters
$42.6M

8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.

Operating Cash Flow
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$21.1M
$-55.2M
Q3 25
$15.6M
Q2 25
$2.9M
Q1 25
$34.1M
Q4 24
$2.7M
Q3 24
$24.5M
Q2 24
$12.4M
Q1 24
$20.2M
Free Cash Flow
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
$11.6M
$-59.7M
Q3 25
$7.5M
Q2 25
$-4.2M
Q1 25
$27.6M
Q4 24
$-6.9M
Q3 24
$18.0M
Q2 24
$3.6M
Q1 24
$9.8M
FCF Margin
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
3.4%
-11.1%
Q3 25
2.2%
Q2 25
-1.3%
Q1 25
8.2%
Q4 24
-2.1%
Q3 24
5.6%
Q2 24
1.2%
Q1 24
3.2%
Capex Intensity
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
2.9%
0.8%
Q3 25
2.4%
Q2 25
2.2%
Q1 25
1.9%
Q4 24
2.9%
Q3 24
2.0%
Q2 24
2.9%
Q1 24
3.4%
Cash Conversion
NGVC
NGVC
SGU
SGU
Q4 25
1.86×
-1.54×
Q3 25
1.32×
Q2 25
0.25×
Q1 25
2.60×
Q4 24
0.27×
Q3 24
2.72×
Q2 24
1.35×
Q1 24
2.54×

Financial Flow Comparison

Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.

Revenue Breakdown by Segment

NGVC
NGVC

Grocery$243.8M73%
Dietary Supplements$60.7M18%
Manufactured Product Other$31.0M9%

SGU
SGU

Home Heating Oil And Propane$372.6M69%
Motor Fuel And Other Petroleum Products$75.4M14%
Equipment Installations$39.6M7%
Equipment Maintenance Service Contracts$30.3M6%
Billable Call Services$21.4M4%

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