Financial Analysis: Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NYSE:NGVC) vs. Maison Solutions (NASDAQ:MSS)

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Maison Solutions and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Maison Solutions	$111.74 million	0.18	-$3.34 million	($0.07)	-14.43
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage	$1.27 billion	0.86	$33.94 million	$1.57	30.37

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has higher revenue and earnings than Maison Solutions. Maison Solutions is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares Maison Solutions and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Maison Solutions	-3.16%	-24.68%	-3.96%
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage	2.84%	21.12%	5.52%

Risk & Volatility

Maison Solutions has a beta of 6.03, indicating that its stock price is 503% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has a beta of 1.73, indicating that its stock price is 73% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

2.4% of Maison Solutions shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.0% of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage shares are held by institutional investors. 58.8% of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage beats Maison Solutions on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Maison Solutions

Maison Solutions Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as the specialty grocery retailer in California. The company offers perishable products, such as meat, seafood, vegetables, and fruit; non-perishable products, including grocery products comprising cooking utensils, canned foods, Chinese and Asian seasonings and spices, and snacks, as well as liquor, cigarette, lottery, newspaper, reusable bag, non-food, and health products, and general merchandise, beauty care, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services in its stores. It also offers its products online. The company was formerly known as Maison International, Inc. and changed its name to Maison Solutions Inc. in September 2021. Maison Solutions Inc. was incorporated in 2019 and is based in Monterey Park, California.

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage

Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, retails natural and organic groceries, and dietary supplements in the United States. The company’s stores offer natural and organic grocery products, such as organic produce; private label repackaged bulk products, including dried fruits, nuts, grains, granolas, teas, herbs, and spices, as well as peanut and almond butters; private label products comprising grocery staples, household products, bulk foods, and vitamins and dietary supplements, as well as organic eggs, organic flavored coffee, and organic mustard; dry, frozen, and canned groceries; meat and seafood products; dairy products, dairy substitutes, and eggs; prepared foods; bread and baked products; beverages; and beer, wine, and hard cider products. Its stores also provide name-brand supplements, as well as private label dietary supplements; body care products consisting of cosmetics, skin care, hair care, fragrance, and personal care products containing natural and organic ingredients; pet care and food products; books and handouts; household and general merchandise, including cleaning supplies, paper products, and dish and laundry soaps, as well as other common household products, such as diapers; and books and handouts. The company operates its retail stores under the Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage trademark, as well as Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers and Health Hotline trademarks. The company also offers science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. was founded in 1955 and is headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado.