14,199 Shares in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) Purchased by Proficio Capital Partners LLC

Proficio Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 14,199 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock, valued at approximately $862,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kentucky Trust Co bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its position in National Fuel Gas by 82.9% in the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the period. S.A. Mason LLC bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter worth about $38,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its position in National Fuel Gas by 49.5% in the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 722 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares during the period. Finally, Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the third quarter worth about $46,000. 73.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NFG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target 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. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $74.67.

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

Shares of National Fuel Gas stock opened at $78.18 on Friday. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $72.27 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $64.96. National Fuel Gas has a 12-month low of $51.46 and a 12-month high of $79.35. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The firm has a market cap of $7.08 billion, a PE ratio of -558.41 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 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 business posted $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.63%. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -1,471.43%.

About National Fuel Gas

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.