Twin Tree Management LP Reduces Position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Twin Tree Management LP lessened its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 54.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 10,434 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 12,286 shares during the period. Twin Tree Management LP’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $633,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 7,698 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $467,000 after purchasing an additional 859 shares during the last quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $238,000. Zacks Investment Management acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $957,000. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,277,000. Finally, Vestcor Inc acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $716,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

NFG opened at $77.74 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $71.29 and a 200 day moving average price of $64.64. National Fuel Gas has a 1 year low of $51.36 and a 1 year high of $77.94. The stock has a market cap of $7.04 billion, a P/E ratio of -555.25 and a beta of 0.57.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.22. National Fuel Gas had a negative net margin of 0.53% and a positive return on equity of 15.96%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.46 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.65%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio is currently -1,471.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on NFG. Argus upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $74.67.

National Fuel Gas Profile

National Fuel Gas Company operates as a diversified energy company. It operates through four segments: Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering, and Utility. The Exploration and Production segment explores for, develops, and produces natural gas and oil. The Pipeline and Storage segment provides interstate natural gas transportation services through an integrated gas pipeline system in Pennsylvania and New York; and owns and operates underground natural gas storage fields.