Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NGVC) Cash Flow Statement
Where NGVC’s cash came from and went, FY2025
September 30, 2025 · U.S. dollars- Cash from operations
- $55.3M −25.0% vs FY2024
- Capital expenditures
- $31.4M 2.4% of revenue
- Free cash flow
- $23.9M 1.8% margin
- Returned to shareholders
- $12.3M 51% of free cash flow
- Change in cash
- $8.2M cash at year-end $17.1M
Drawn to scale: where the cash came from and how it was used. Hover for values.
NGVC operating cash flow, capex and free cash flow
NGVC cash flow trends, FY2016–FY2025
| Metric | Trend | Then | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating cash flow | $28.8MFY2016 | $55.3MFY2025 | +7.5%/yr | |
| Capital expenditures | $53.8MFY2016 | $31.4MFY2025 | −5.8%/yr | |
| Free cash flow | −$24.9MFY2016 | $23.9MFY2025 | — | |
| Free cash flow margin | −3.5%FY2016 | 1.8%FY2025 | +5.3 pts | |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 2.51FY2016 | 1.19FY2025 | −1.32 | |
| Stock-based compensation | $879,000FY2016 | $4.0MFY2025 | +18.2%/yr | |
| Dividends paid | $0FY2016 | $11.0MFY2025 | — | |
| Share buybacks (net) | $829,000FY2016 | $1.3MFY2025 | +4.7%/yr | |
| Capex / revenue | 7.6%FY2016 | 2.4%FY2025 | −5.3 pts |
Change is the average annual growth (CAGR) or the difference between the first and latest year.
NGVC cash flow by activity
NGVC net income vs operating cash flow
Operating cash flow above net income usually means earnings are backed by cash (depreciation and stock-based pay are non-cash expenses).
NGVC cash flow statement
| FY2025 | FY2024 | FY2023 | FY2022 | FY2021 | FY2020 | FY2019 | FY2018 | FY2017 | FY2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||
| Net income | $46.4M | $33.9M | $23.2M | $21.4M | $20.6M | $20.0M | $9.4M | $12.7M | $6.9M | $11.5M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $31.8M | $30.9M | $28.9M | $27.9M | $29.6M | $31.2M | $29.0M | $29.4M | $29.5M | $25.5M |
| Stock-based compensation | $4.0M | $2.8M | $1.4M | $1.2M | $877,000 | $1.1M | $1.2M | $810,000 | $758,000 | $879,000 |
| Change in working capital | −$24.4M | $8.1M | $10.9M | −$14.4M | $537,000 | $9.8M | −$6.4M | $5.3M | $3.5M | −$16.0M |
| Other non-cash items | −$2.5M | −$2.0M | $191,000 | $3.6M | $2.3M | $4.3M | $4.2M | −$5.4M | $232,000 | $7.0M |
| Cash from operating activities | $55.3M | $73.8M | $64.6M | $39.7M | $53.9M | $66.5M | $37.4M | $42.9M | $40.8M | $28.8M |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$31.4M | −$38.7M | −$38.1M | −$31.4M | −$28.3M | −$29.6M | −$32.7M | −$23.7M | −$41.2M | −$53.8M |
| Investments (net) | — | −$38.6M | −$38.0M | −$31.1M | −$27.8M | −$29.6M | −$31.9M | −$23.5M | −$38.5M | −$53.7M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | $408,000 | $38.7M | $38.1M | $31.4M | $28.3M | $29.6M | $32.7M | $23.7M | $41.2M | $53.8M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$31.0M | −$38.6M | −$38.0M | −$31.1M | −$27.8M | −$29.6M | −$31.9M | −$23.5M | −$38.5M | −$53.7M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$11.0M | −$31.9M | −$9.1M | −$9.1M | −$51.5M | −$6.3M | −$6.3M | −$6.3M | −$6.3M | $0 |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | −$1.3M | −$1.4M | −$181,000 | −$403,000 | −$340,000 | −$337,000 | −$421,000 | −$581,000 | −$261,000 | −$829,000 |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | −$3.8M | −$11.3M | −$10.8M | −$10.7M | $20.9M | −$5.7M | −$7.5M | −$15.2M | $965,000 | $27.0M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | $0 | −$18,000 | −$304,000 | $0 | −$52,000 | −$2.3M | $5.5M | $5.6M | $5.8M | −$161,000 |
| Cash from financing activities | −$16.1M | −$44.6M | −$20.4M | −$20.2M | −$31.0M | −$14.6M | −$8.7M | −$16.4M | $154,000 | $26.0M |
| Summary | ||||||||||
| Net change in cash | $8.2M | −$9.5M | $6.3M | −$11.6M | −$4.9M | $22.3M | −$3.2M | $2.9M | $2.5M | $1.1M |
| Cash at end of period | $17.1M | $8.9M | $18.3M | $12.0M | $23.7M | $28.5M | $6.2M | $9.4M | $6.5M | $4.0M |
| Free cash flow | $23.9M | $35.1M | $26.5M | $8.2M | $25.6M | $36.9M | $4.6M | $19.1M | −$382,000 | −$24.9M |
| Free cash flow margin | 1.8% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 2.4% | 3.6% | 0.5% | 2.3% | −0.0% | −3.5% |
| Capex / revenue | 2.4% | 3.1% | 3.3% | 2.9% | 2.7% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.8% | 5.4% | 7.6% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.19 | 2.17 | 2.78 | 1.86 | 2.62 | 3.32 | 3.97 | 3.39 | 5.93 | 2.51 |
| Jun '26 | Mar '26 | Dec '25 | Sep '25 | Jun '25 | Mar '25 | Dec '24 | Sep '24 | Jun '24 | Mar '24 | Dec '23 | Sep '23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $11.1M | $13.4M | $11.3M | $11.8M | $11.6M | $13.1M | $9.9M | $9.0M | $9.2M | $8.0M | $7.8M | $5.9M |
| Depreciation & amortization | $8.3M | $8.2M | $8.0M | $8.0M | $8.0M | $7.9M | $8.0M | $9.6M | $7.8M | $7.7M | $7.5M | $7.5M |
| Stock-based compensation | $981,000 | $945,000 | $857,000 | $860,000 | $843,000 | $822,000 | $1.4M | $929,000 | $1.1M | $432,000 | $406,000 | $314,000 |
| Change in working capital | −$16.2M | −$360,000 | $912,000 | −$4.9M | −$16.8M | $13.3M | −$16.0M | $6.3M | −$5.0M | $5.4M | $1.3M | $15.9M |
| Other non-cash items | $7.0M | $535,000 | $58,000 | $34.3M | −$686,000 | −$1.0M | −$676,000 | −$1.4M | −$662,000 | −$1.3M | −$306,000 | −$1.1M |
| Cash from operating activities | $11.3M | $22.7M | $21.1M | $50.1M | $2.9M | $34.1M | $2.7M | $24.5M | $12.4M | $20.2M | $16.6M | $28.4M |
| Investing activities | ||||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | −$9.6M | −$20.8M | −$9.6M | −$8.1M | −$7.1M | −$9.7M | −$9.7M | −$6.5M | −$9.3M | −$10.7M | −$11.8M | −$13.7M |
| Investments (net) | — | — | — | — | −$7.1M | −$6.5M | −$9.4M | −$6.8M | −$9.3M | −$10.7M | −$11.8M | −$13.7M |
| Acquisitions & other investing | −$445,000 | $17,000 | $22,000 | $48,000 | $7.1M | $9.7M | $9.7M | $6.5M | $9.3M | $10.7M | $11.8M | $13.7M |
| Cash from investing activities | −$10.0M | −$20.8M | −$9.6M | −$8.0M | −$7.1M | −$6.5M | −$9.4M | −$6.8M | −$9.3M | −$10.7M | −$11.8M | −$13.7M |
| Financing activities | ||||||||||||
| Dividends paid | −$3.5M | −$3.5M | −$3.5M | −$2.8M | −$2.8M | −$2.8M | −$2.7M | −$2.3M | −$2.3M | −$2.3M | −$25.0M | −$2.3M |
| Share repurchases & issuance (net) | $1.2M | −$40,000 | −$1.1M | $1.2M | −$167,000 | −$73,000 | −$1.0M | −$1.2M | −$164,000 | −$1,000 | −$78,000 | −$86,000 |
| Net borrowing (repayment) | −$982,000 | −$933,000 | −$886,000 | −$894,000 | −$980,000 | −$9.9M | $7.9M | −$19.2M | $2.3M | — | — | −$2.7M |
| Shares issued | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other financing | −$1.2M | $0 | $0 | −$35.7M | $0 | $0 | $0 | −$18,000 | $0 | −$9.9M | $15.6M | $70,000 |
| Cash from financing activities | −$4.5M | −$4.4M | −$5.5M | −$38.1M | −$3.9M | −$12.7M | $4.2M | −$22.8M | −$190,000 | −$12.2M | −$9.5M | −$5.0M |
| Summary | ||||||||||||
| Net change in cash | −$3.3M | −$2.5M | $6.1M | $3.9M | −$8.0M | $14.9M | −$2.6M | −$5.0M | $2.9M | −$2.6M | −$4.7M | $9.8M |
| Cash at end of period | $17.5M | $20.7M | $23.2M | $17.1M | $13.2M | $21.2M | $6.3M | $8.9M | $13.9M | $11.0M | $13.6M | $18.3M |
| Free cash flow | $1.7M | $1.9M | $11.5M | $42.0M | −$4.2M | $43.7M | −$7.0M | $18.0M | $3.1M | $9.5M | $4.8M | $14.7M |
| Free cash flow margin | 0.5% | 0.6% | 3.4% | 12.5% | −1.3% | 13.0% | −2.1% | 5.6% | 1.0% | 3.1% | 1.6% | 5.0% |
| Capex / revenue | 2.9% | 6.2% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.0% | 3.0% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 4.6% |
| Operating cash flow / net income | 1.02 | 1.69 | 1.86 | 4.24 | 0.25 | 2.60 | 0.27 | 2.72 | 1.35 | 2.54 | 2.14 | 4.84 |
Negative numbers are cash paid out. Quarterly columns are labeled by the month the quarter ended. Figures in U.S. dollars as reported; data from EODHD.
NGVC cash generation
In fiscal 2025 (ended September 30, 2025), Natural Grocers generated $55.3 million of cash from operations (down 25.0%) and spent $31.4 million on capital expenditures, leaving free cash flow of $23.9 million, 1.8% of revenue. It returned $12.3 million to shareholders through dividends ($11.0 million) and net share buybacks ($1.3 million). Cash and equivalents rose by $8.2 million over the year.
Related: NGVC income statement, NGVC balance sheet, NGVC dividend history. See the NGVC stock overview for the latest quote and news.
NGVC cash flow FAQ
What is Natural Grocers's free cash flow?
Natural Grocers's free cash flow was $23.9 million in fiscal 2025: $55.3 million of operating cash flow minus $31.4 million of capital expenditures It was $35.1 million a year earlier..
How much cash does Natural Grocers generate from operations?
Natural Grocers generated $55.3 million of cash from operating activities in fiscal 2025, 1.19 times its net income of $46.4 million.
How much does Natural Grocers spend on capital expenditures?
Natural Grocers spent $31.4 million on capital expenditures in fiscal 2025, 2.4% of revenue, compared with $38.7 million the year before.
How much stock does Natural Grocers buy back?
Natural Grocers spent $1.3 million on net share repurchases in fiscal 2025.
How much does Natural Grocers pay in dividends?
Natural Grocers paid $11.0 million in dividends in fiscal 2025, 46.0% of free cash flow.