Latest Ratios: P/E Ratio 18.9x · EV/EBITDA 7.3x · ROE 5.3%. (1996–2025 historical series)
Price-based multiples — how expensive the stock is relative to earnings, sales, book value, and cash flow
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $1.6B | $1.3B | $1.4B | $1.4B | $1.6B | $1.3B | $739M | $787M | $694M | $521M | $801M |
| Enterprise Value | $1.8B | $1.5B | $1.6B | $1.7B | $1.9B | $1.8B | $1.4B | $1.6B | $1.5B | $1.4B | $1.7B |
| P/E Ratio → | 18.88 | 15.62 | 13.37 | 6.79 | 5.69 | 5.14 | 4.14 | 9.64 | 7.12 | 9.66 | 14.81 |
| P/S Ratio | 0.30 | 0.24 | 0.25 | 0.24 | 0.27 | 0.26 | 0.16 | 0.19 | 0.17 | 0.13 | 0.21 |
| P/B Ratio | 0.98 | 0.81 | 0.91 | 0.98 | 1.23 | 1.31 | 0.90 | 1.19 | 1.17 | 1.02 | 1.70 |
| P/FCF | 39.85 | 32.96 | 27.34 | 15.42 | 7.06 | 7.75 | 3.25 | 15.82 | 64.53 | 18.18 | 37.45 |
| P/OCF | 10.24 | 8.47 | 5.38 | 5.37 | 4.58 | 4.19 | 2.11 | 3.72 | 4.30 | 3.33 | 5.04 |
P/E links to full P/E history page with 30-year chart
Enterprise-value multiples — capital-structure-neutral measures of total business value
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV / Revenue | — | 0.28 | 0.29 | 0.29 | 0.33 | 0.37 | 0.30 | 0.38 | 0.38 | 0.34 | 0.44 |
| EV / EBITDA | 7.30 | 6.17 | 6.04 | 4.16 | 3.84 | 3.95 | 3.49 | 6.03 | 6.51 | 5.76 | 7.11 |
| EV / EBIT | 14.93 | 11.44 | 10.06 | 5.65 | 4.96 | 5.25 | 5.03 | 10.37 | 12.11 | 10.44 | 12.77 |
| EV / FCF | — | 37.44 | 31.43 | 18.29 | 8.63 | 11.14 | 6.10 | 32.11 | 144.04 | 47.99 | 78.17 |
Margins and return-on-capital ratios measuring operating efficiency
Full margin charts and quarterly trend are on the Earnings History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Margin | 23.9% | 23.9% | 23.0% | 23.8% | 24.9% | 26.1% | 26.0% | 24.3% | 23.9% | 24.1% | 24.4% |
| Operating Margin | 2.2% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 5.0% | 6.6% | 7.0% | 6.1% | 3.6% | 3.0% | 3.2% | 3.4% |
| Net Profit Margin | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 3.9% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 1.3% | 1.4% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROE | 5.3% | 5.3% | 7.0% | 15.5% | 24.3% | 27.7% | 24.1% | 13.0% | 17.6% | 11.0% | 12.1% |
| ROA | 3.3% | 3.3% | 4.2% | 8.8% | 12.6% | 12.7% | 9.5% | 4.4% | 5.5% | 3.2% | 3.2% |
| ROIC | 5.0% | 5.0% | 6.3% | 13.2% | 17.9% | 17.4% | 14.3% | 7.8% | 6.7% | 7.1% | 7.3% |
| ROCE | 5.3% | 5.3% | 6.8% | 14.2% | 20.5% | 21.3% | 17.6% | 9.6% | 8.2% | 8.7% | 9.0% |
Solvency and debt-coverage ratios — lower is generally safer
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt / Equity | 0.34 | 0.34 | 0.37 | 0.41 | 0.49 | 0.64 | 0.80 | 1.29 | 1.45 | 1.72 | 1.86 |
| Debt / EBITDA | 2.26 | 2.26 | 2.10 | 1.46 | 1.24 | 1.35 | 1.65 | 3.22 | 3.64 | 3.68 | 3.73 |
| Net Debt / Equity | — | 0.11 | 0.14 | 0.18 | 0.27 | 0.57 | 0.79 | 1.22 | 1.44 | 1.67 | 1.85 |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | 0.74 | 0.74 | 0.79 | 0.65 | 0.70 | 1.20 | 1.63 | 3.06 | 3.59 | 3.58 | 3.70 |
| Debt / FCF | — | 4.48 | 4.09 | 2.88 | 1.57 | 3.39 | 2.85 | 16.28 | 79.51 | 29.81 | 40.71 |
| Interest Coverage | 6.58 | 6.58 | 7.38 | 13.62 | 17.80 | 14.46 | 6.80 | 3.25 | 2.69 | 2.78 | 2.83 |
Short-term solvency ratios and asset-utilisation metrics
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio | 3.22 | 3.22 | 2.89 | 2.88 | 2.51 | 1.88 | 1.45 | 2.01 | 1.91 | 1.82 | 1.73 |
| Quick Ratio | 1.63 | 1.63 | 1.45 | 1.39 | 1.14 | 0.61 | 0.32 | 0.50 | 0.48 | 0.39 | 0.31 |
| Cash Ratio | 1.21 | 1.21 | 1.10 | 0.99 | 0.80 | 0.25 | 0.02 | 0.17 | 0.04 | 0.10 | 0.02 |
| Asset Turnover | — | 2.08 | 2.23 | 2.38 | 2.47 | 2.47 | 2.43 | 2.25 | 2.24 | 2.31 | 2.25 |
| Inventory Turnover | 8.41 | 8.41 | 9.39 | 9.09 | 9.31 | 9.45 | 9.30 | 8.50 | 8.36 | 8.70 | 8.35 |
| Days Sales Outstanding | — | 7.28 | 5.07 | 6.66 | 6.24 | 6.96 | 6.44 | 6.25 | 6.25 | 6.05 | 5.94 |
Earnings, FCF, buyback, and dividend yields — total returns to shareholders
Full dividend history and growth charts are on the Dividend History page
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 1.6% |
| Payout Ratio | 14.7% | 14.7% | 11.6% | 5.8% | 4.5% | 5.1% | 7.3% | 15.9% | 13.4% | 24.1% | 24.0% |
| Metric | TTM | FY 2025 | FY 2024 | FY 2023 | FY 2022 | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | FY 2019 | FY 2018 | FY 2017 | FY 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings Yield | 5.3% | 6.4% | 7.5% | 14.7% | 17.6% | 19.4% | 24.2% | 10.4% | 14.0% | 10.4% | 6.8% |
| FCF Yield | 2.5% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 6.5% | 14.2% | 12.9% | 30.8% | 6.3% | 1.5% | 5.5% | 2.7% |
| Buyback Yield | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Total Shareholder Yield | 0.8% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 7.2% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 1.6% |
| Shares Outstanding | — | $19M | $19M | $19M | $19M | $20M | $20M | $20M | $20M | $20M | $20M |
Includes 30+ ratios · 30 years · Updated daily
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Quick answers to the most common questions about buying IMKTA stock.
Ingles Markets, Incorporated's current P/E ratio is 18.9x. The historical average is 14.2x. This places it at the 93th percentile of its historical range.
Ingles Markets, Incorporated's current EV/EBITDA is 7.3x. This enterprise value multiple compares the company's total value (equity + debt - cash) to its EBITDA. The historical average is 6.2x.
Ingles Markets, Incorporated's return on equity (ROE) is 5.3%. The historical average is 11.8%.
Based on historical data, Ingles Markets, Incorporated is trading at a P/E of 18.9x. This is at the 93th percentile of its historical P/E range. Compare with industry peers and growth rates for a complete picture.
Ingles Markets, Incorporated's current dividend yield is 0.78% with a payout ratio of 14.7%.
Ingles Markets, Incorporated has 23.9% gross margin and 2.2% operating margin.
Ingles Markets, Incorporated's Debt/EBITDA ratio is 2.3x, indicating moderate leverage. A ratio between 2-4x is manageable but warrants monitoring.
Key Metrics
Top Statement Risk
Persistent revenue decline and thin margins
Metrics are mathematically derived from official filings.
Discounted as a Slow-Growth Utility
IMKTA trades at 19.8x trailing earnings and 7.6x EV/EBITDA, per reported multiples, a premium to regional peers like VLGEA (11.3x P/E) but a discount to growth-oriented CASY (44.2x P/E), suggesting the market prices in minimal expansion.
The EV/EBITDA multiple of 7.6x is roughly in line with VLGEA's 7.97x, but the P/E premium likely reflects the fortress balance sheet and real estate holdings rather than earnings growth. With revenue declining 5.4% year-over-year, the market appears to value IMKTA as a stable, asset-backed cash generator, not a growth story. The low P/S of 0.31 underscores the market's skepticism about top-line recovery, while the P/B near 1.0 suggests the market values the company close to its book value, potentially ignoring hidden real estate appreciation.
Margin Stability Masks Structural Pressures
Gross margin expanded to 24.3% in 2026Q3 from 23.4% a year earlier, per financial statements, yet operating margin remains thin at 2.5%, indicating that cost controls are offsetting revenue declines but leaving little buffer for external shocks.
The gross margin improvement suggests better cost management or a favorable mix shift, possibly toward higher-margin private label or dairy products. However, operating margin of 2.5% is only slightly above the 2024Q4 trough of -0.1%, and net margin of 1.9% remains vulnerable to any uptick in labor or logistics costs. The EPS beat in the latest quarter appears to be driven by non-operating items or a low consensus bar, as net income rose only 1.6% year-over-year, per reported figures, indicating that underlying profitability is not expanding materially.
Returns on Capital Remain Subdued
ROIC has hovered between 0.9% and 1.9% over the past ten quarters, per reported data, well below the cost of capital, indicating that the company is not compounding shareholder value efficiently despite its asset-heavy model.
The low ROIC reflects both thin operating margins and a large asset base, with PP&E of $1.5B constituting over half of total assets. While the real estate strategy provides long-term occupancy cost advantages, it also depresses returns on capital in the near term. ROE of 1.5% in 2026Q3 is similarly weak, though it is supported by a conservative balance sheet with minimal debt. The lack of significant improvement in ROIC despite margin stabilization suggests that the company's capital intensity is a structural drag on returns, and investors should monitor whether any future efficiency gains can lift returns above the cost of capital.
Working Capital Efficiency Shows Stability
The cash conversion cycle has remained stable at 33-36 days over the past year, per reported figures, with DSO at 7 days and DIO at 42 days, indicating consistent inventory and receivable management despite revenue declines.
The stable CCC suggests that the company is not experiencing significant working capital stress, even as sales contract. DPO of 16 days is relatively low, indicating that IMKTA pays suppliers quickly, which may reflect its strong cash position but also limits its ability to finance operations with supplier credit. Asset turnover of 0.52x is low, consistent with the asset-heavy real estate model, and has been declining slightly from 0.55x a year ago, indicating that the revenue decline is outpacing asset growth. This suggests that the company's efficiency is being challenged by top-line erosion, and any further decline could pressure returns.
Minimal Debt Provides Strategic Flexibility
Debt-to-equity stands at 0.31, with interest coverage of 8.33x in 2026Q3, per reported data, indicating that the company's modest leverage is comfortably serviced and insulated from rising interest rates.
The D/E ratio of 0.31 is significantly lower than peers like VLGEA (0.69) and CASY (0.84), reflecting a conservative capital structure that prioritizes financial stability. Interest coverage of 8.33x is robust, though it has improved from the 2024Q4 trough of 0.43x, when operating income was near zero. The low leverage suggests that IMKTA has ample capacity to take on debt for opportunistic acquisitions or share repurchases, but management has historically chosen to accumulate cash instead. This conservative approach reduces refinancing risk but may also signal a lack of growth initiatives, which could be a concern given the persistent revenue decline.
Fortress Liquidity Buffers Against Shocks
The current ratio improved to 3.21 in 2026Q3, with cash of $455.1M, per balance sheet data, indicating that the company can cover short-term obligations more than three times over, providing a strong buffer against operational disruptions.
The quick ratio of 1.75, excluding inventory, remains healthy, suggesting that even if inventory becomes difficult to liquidate, the company can meet its near-term liabilities. The high cash balance, which has grown to over $366M, provides significant flexibility for capital allocation, whether for store remodels, digital initiatives, or potential special dividends. However, the large cash position also represents an opportunity cost, as it earns minimal returns in a low-rate environment, and the market may view it as 'dead money' rather than a strategic reserve. The liquidity position is a key strength, but investors should monitor whether management deploys this cash to generate shareholder value.
Regional Peer Comparison Highlights Trade-Offs
IMKTA's P/E of 19.8x is higher than VLGEA's 11.3x but its EV/EBITDA of 7.6x is lower than CASY's 23.0x, per peer data, indicating that the market values its asset base and stability but discounts its growth prospects.
Compared to VLGEA, IMKTA trades at a premium on P/E but a discount on P/B (1.02 vs 1.29), suggesting that the market is not fully crediting its real estate holdings. CASY, a growth-oriented convenience store chain, commands a much higher multiple, reflecting its superior ROE of 18.7% and net margin of 4.1%, while IMKTA's ROE of 1.5% is far below. The gap in profitability metrics is structural, driven by IMKTA's asset-heavy model and lower-margin fuel sales, but the company's fortress balance sheet and low leverage provide a risk profile that may justify a premium to more leveraged peers. Investors should monitor whether IMKTA can improve its returns to narrow the gap with more efficient operators.
Misapplied Metric: P/E Overlooks Asset Value
The P/E ratio is commonly misapplied to IMKTA because it ignores the substantial real estate holdings carried at historical cost, per balance sheet data, which likely understate the company's true asset value and earnings power.
IMKTA's P/E of 19.8x appears expensive relative to peers, but this metric fails to capture the value of owned shopping centers and land that are not reflected in current earnings. A more appropriate valuation approach would be to use EV/EBITDA or a sum-of-the-parts analysis that separates the retail operations from the real estate portfolio. The low P/B of 1.02 suggests that the market is valuing the company close to its book value, but if the real estate were marked to market, the book value could be significantly higher, implying that the stock may be undervalued. Investors should adjust for the hidden asset value and focus on cash flow generation rather than earnings multiples when assessing IMKTA's worth.