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Side-by-side financial comparison of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NGVC) and SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS LP (SPH). Click either name above to swap in a different company.
SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS LP is the larger business by last-quarter revenue ($370.4M vs $335.6M, roughly 1.1× Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.). SUBURBAN PROPANE PARTNERS LP runs the higher net margin — 12.4% vs 3.4%, a 9.0% gap on every dollar of revenue. On growth, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. posted the faster year-over-year revenue change (1.6% vs -0.8%). Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. produced more free cash flow last quarter ($11.6M vs $-67.5M). Over the past eight quarters, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.'s revenue compounded faster (4.4% CAGR vs -13.8%).
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.
Suburban Propane Partners LP is a leading U.S. distributor of propane, natural gas, heating oil and related energy products, serving residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers across the country. It also provides HVAC system installation, maintenance and repair services, catering mainly to suburban and off-grid communities.
NGVC vs SPH — Head-to-Head
Income Statement — Q1 FY2026 vs Q1 FY2026
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $335.6M | $370.4M |
| Net Profit | $11.3M | $45.8M |
| Gross Margin | 29.5% | 64.7% |
| Operating Margin | 4.4% | 18.3% |
| Net Margin | 3.4% | 12.4% |
| Revenue YoY | 1.6% | -0.8% |
| Net Profit YoY | 14.0% | 135.7% |
| EPS (diluted) | $0.49 | $0.69 |
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.
| Q4 25 | $335.6M | $370.4M | ||
| Q3 25 | $336.1M | $211.4M | ||
| Q2 25 | $328.7M | $260.1M | ||
| Q1 25 | $335.8M | $587.7M | ||
| Q4 24 | $330.2M | $373.3M | ||
| Q3 24 | $322.7M | $208.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $309.1M | $254.6M | ||
| Q1 24 | $308.1M | $498.1M |
| Q4 25 | $11.3M | $45.8M | ||
| Q3 25 | $11.8M | $-35.1M | ||
| Q2 25 | $11.6M | $-14.8M | ||
| Q1 25 | $13.1M | $137.1M | ||
| Q4 24 | $9.9M | $19.4M | ||
| Q3 24 | $9.0M | $-44.6M | ||
| Q2 24 | $9.2M | $-17.2M | ||
| Q1 24 | $8.0M | $111.5M |
| Q4 25 | 29.5% | 64.7% | ||
| Q3 25 | 29.5% | 64.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 29.9% | 61.7% | ||
| Q1 25 | 30.3% | 58.8% | ||
| Q4 24 | 29.9% | 60.6% | ||
| Q3 24 | 29.6% | 59.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 29.2% | 62.9% | ||
| Q1 24 | 29.3% | 61.8% |
| Q4 25 | 4.4% | 18.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | 4.6% | -7.9% | ||
| Q2 25 | 4.7% | 2.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 5.2% | 27.0% | ||
| Q4 24 | 4.0% | 15.8% | ||
| Q3 24 | 3.7% | -10.8% | ||
| Q2 24 | 4.2% | 3.2% | ||
| Q1 24 | 3.7% | 27.5% |
| Q4 25 | 3.4% | 12.4% | ||
| Q3 25 | 3.5% | -16.6% | ||
| Q2 25 | 3.5% | -5.7% | ||
| Q1 25 | 3.9% | 23.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 3.0% | 5.2% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.8% | -21.4% | ||
| Q2 24 | 3.0% | -6.8% | ||
| Q1 24 | 2.6% | 22.4% |
| Q4 25 | $0.49 | $0.69 | ||
| Q3 25 | $0.51 | $-0.55 | ||
| Q2 25 | $0.50 | $-0.23 | ||
| Q1 25 | $0.56 | $2.10 | ||
| Q4 24 | $0.43 | $0.30 | ||
| Q3 24 | $0.38 | $-0.69 | ||
| Q2 24 | $0.40 | $-0.27 | ||
| Q1 24 | $0.35 | $1.72 |
Balance Sheet & Financial Strength
Snapshot of each company's liquidity, leverage and book value from the latest quarter.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash + ST InvestmentsLiquidity on hand | $23.2M | $1.3M |
| Total DebtLower is stronger | — | $1.3B |
| Stockholders' EquityBook value | $220.0M | — |
| Total Assets | $668.6M | $2.4B |
| Debt / EquityLower = less leverage | — | — |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $23.2M | $1.3M | ||
| Q3 25 | $17.1M | $405.0K | ||
| Q2 25 | $13.2M | $1.3M | ||
| Q1 25 | $21.2M | $3.9M | ||
| Q4 24 | $6.3M | $4.4M | ||
| Q3 24 | $8.9M | $3.2M | ||
| Q2 24 | $13.9M | $4.9M | ||
| Q1 24 | $11.0M | $4.4M |
| Q4 25 | — | $1.3B | ||
| Q3 25 | — | $1.2B | ||
| Q2 25 | — | $1.2B | ||
| Q1 25 | — | $1.3B | ||
| Q4 24 | — | $1.3B | ||
| Q3 24 | — | $1.2B | ||
| Q2 24 | — | $1.2B | ||
| Q1 24 | — | $1.2B |
| 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 | — |
| Q4 25 | $668.6M | $2.4B | ||
| Q3 25 | $670.5M | $2.3B | ||
| Q2 25 | $659.0M | $2.3B | ||
| Q1 25 | $664.6M | $2.4B | ||
| Q4 24 | $648.9M | $2.4B | ||
| Q3 24 | $655.5M | $2.3B | ||
| Q2 24 | $654.4M | $2.3B | ||
| Q1 24 | $656.6M | $2.3B |
Cash Flow & Capital Efficiency
How much cash each business actually produces after reinvestment. Cash flow is harder to manipulate than net income.
| Metric | | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Cash FlowLast quarter | $21.1M | $-47.7M |
| Free Cash FlowOCF − Capex | $11.6M | $-67.5M |
| FCF MarginFCF / Revenue | 3.4% | -18.2% |
| Capex IntensityCapex / Revenue | 2.9% | 5.3% |
| Cash ConversionOCF / Net Profit | 1.86× | -1.04× |
| TTM Free Cash FlowTrailing 4 quarters | $42.6M | $61.9M |
8-quarter trend — quarters aligned by calendar period.
| Q4 25 | $21.1M | $-47.7M | ||
| Q3 25 | $15.6M | $41.8M | ||
| Q2 25 | $2.9M | $95.5M | ||
| Q1 25 | $34.1M | $40.1M | ||
| Q4 24 | $2.7M | $8.8M | ||
| Q3 24 | $24.5M | $36.8M | ||
| Q2 24 | $12.4M | $61.4M | ||
| Q1 24 | $20.2M | $75.1M |
| Q4 25 | $11.6M | $-67.5M | ||
| Q3 25 | $7.5M | $27.7M | ||
| Q2 25 | $-4.2M | $80.9M | ||
| Q1 25 | $27.6M | $20.8M | ||
| Q4 24 | $-6.9M | $-15.1M | ||
| Q3 24 | $18.0M | $17.7M | ||
| Q2 24 | $3.6M | $46.8M | ||
| Q1 24 | $9.8M | $60.6M |
| Q4 25 | 3.4% | -18.2% | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.2% | 13.1% | ||
| Q2 25 | -1.3% | 31.1% | ||
| Q1 25 | 8.2% | 3.5% | ||
| Q4 24 | -2.1% | -4.0% | ||
| Q3 24 | 5.6% | 8.5% | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.2% | 18.4% | ||
| Q1 24 | 3.2% | 12.2% |
| Q4 25 | 2.9% | 5.3% | ||
| Q3 25 | 2.4% | 6.7% | ||
| Q2 25 | 2.2% | 5.6% | ||
| Q1 25 | 1.9% | 3.3% | ||
| Q4 24 | 2.9% | 6.4% | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.0% | 9.1% | ||
| Q2 24 | 2.9% | 5.8% | ||
| Q1 24 | 3.4% | 2.9% |
| Q4 25 | 1.86× | -1.04× | ||
| Q3 25 | 1.32× | — | ||
| Q2 25 | 0.25× | — | ||
| Q1 25 | 2.60× | 0.29× | ||
| Q4 24 | 0.27× | 0.45× | ||
| Q3 24 | 2.72× | — | ||
| Q2 24 | 1.35× | — | ||
| Q1 24 | 2.54× | 0.67× |
Financial Flow Comparison
Revenue → gross profit → operating profit → net profit for each company.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
NGVC
| Grocery | $243.8M | 73% |
| Dietary Supplements | $60.7M | 18% |
| Manufactured Product Other | $31.0M | 9% |
SPH
| Propane | $326.4M | 88% |
| Other Sales Revenue Net | $19.9M | 5% |
| Fuel Oil And Refined Fuels | $18.2M | 5% |
| Natural Gas And Electricity | $5.9M | 2% |
| Wholesale | $4.1M | 1% |
