Navellier & Associates Inc. Purchases 3,539 Shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Navellier & Associates Inc. lifted its position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 36.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 13,240 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after buying an additional 3,539 shares during the period. Navellier & Associates Inc.’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $803,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Kentucky Trust Co bought a new position in National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in National Fuel Gas during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the period. Venturi Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in National Fuel Gas during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, S.A. Mason LLC bought a new position in National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on NFG shares. StockNews.com upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of National Fuel Gas in a research report on Monday, October 28th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $62.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $69.00.

Insider Activity at National Fuel Gas

In related news, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total transaction of $625,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 81,519 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,101,459.02. This trade represents a 10.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.27, for a total transaction of $1,216,257.64. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 41,841 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,605,439.07. The trade was a 31.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.41% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NFG opened at $72.58 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $66.48 and a 200-day moving average price of $62.73. 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 stock has a market cap of $6.57 billion, a PE ratio of -518.41 and a beta of 0.64. National Fuel Gas has a 1 year low of $48.06 and a 1 year high of $73.60.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. National Fuel Gas’s payout ratio is -1,471.32%.

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.