Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. Decreases Stake in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. lowered its position in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 33.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,129 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 2,573 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $311,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in shares of 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 valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. S.A. Mason LLC acquired a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 49.5% during the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 722 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Safe Harbor Fiduciary LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas during the third quarter worth $46,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NFG opened at $78.18 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.39. National Fuel Gas has a one year low of $51.46 and a one year high of $79.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.08 billion, a P/E ratio of -558.41 and a beta of 0.57. The company’s fifty day moving average is $72.27 and its two-hundred day moving average is $65.03.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 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 quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. Analysts forecast that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed 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 yield of 2.63%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. National Fuel Gas’s payout ratio is currently -1,471.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NFG has been the topic of several recent research reports. 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. increased their price target on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, March 13th. One 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 given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, National Fuel Gas currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target 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.