Virtu Financial LLC Takes Position in Northwest Natural Holding (NYSE:NWN)

Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Northwest Natural Holding (NYSE:NWN) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 10,841 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $422,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Clarity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Northwest Natural during the fourth quarter worth approximately $63,000. AM Investment Strategies LLC bought a new position in Northwest Natural in the 4th quarter valued at $137,000. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale acquired a new stake in shares of Northwest Natural in the 4th quarter valued at $138,000. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY bought a new stake in shares of Northwest Natural during the fourth quarter worth $209,000. Finally, JGP Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Northwest Natural by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. JGP Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,009 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $234,000 after acquiring an additional 260 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.13% of the company’s stock.

Northwest Natural Stock Down 1.1 %

Northwest Natural stock opened at $35.05 on Wednesday. Northwest Natural Holding has a fifty-two week low of $34.82 and a fifty-two week high of $44.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.37 and a beta of 0.57. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $37.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.49.

Northwest Natural (NYSE:NWN) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.82 by ($0.13). The firm had revenue of $433.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $447.81 million. Northwest Natural had a net margin of 7.36% and a return on equity of 6.76%. Northwest Natural’s quarterly revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.01 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Northwest Natural Holding will post 2.28 EPS for the current year.

Northwest Natural Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 30th were issued a dividend of $0.488 per share. This represents a $1.95 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.57%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, April 29th. Northwest Natural’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 85.53%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on NWN shares. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Northwest Natural from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 7th. StockNews.com raised shares of Northwest Natural from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $41.40.

About Northwest Natural

Northwest Natural Holding Company, through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the United States. The company operates a mist gas storage facility contracted to other utilities, third-party marketers, and electric generators; offers natural gas asset management services; and operates an appliance retail center.