Janney Montgomery Scott LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its stake in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 26,019 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after buying an additional 429 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $1,579,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of NFG. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 82.9% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 38.6% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 696 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at National Fuel Gas

In other National Fuel Gas news, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.27, for a total value of $1,216,257.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 41,841 shares in the company, valued at $2,605,439.07. This represents a 31.83 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at $5,101,459.02. This trade represents a 10.93 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.55% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NFG opened at $71.90 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market cap of $6.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -513.53 and a beta of 0.64. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $63.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $61.34. National Fuel Gas has a fifty-two week low of $45.32 and a fifty-two week high of $73.13.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.22. National Fuel Gas had a positive return on equity of 15.96% and a negative net margin of 0.53%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.87%. National Fuel Gas’s payout ratio is currently -1,471.43%.

National Fuel Gas Company 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.