National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) Upgraded by StockNews.com to Hold Rating

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) was upgraded by StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday.

A number of other analysts have also issued reports on the company. Bank of America assumed coverage on National Fuel Gas in a report on Monday, October 28th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Argus upgraded National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $69.00.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

National Fuel Gas stock opened at $71.90 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.51 billion, a P/E ratio of -513.53 and a beta of 0.64. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $63.63 and a 200 day moving average price of $61.34. National Fuel Gas has a 52 week low of $45.32 and a 52 week high of $73.13. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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 period in the prior year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total value of $625,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 81,519 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,101,459.02. This trade represents a 10.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were 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 owns 41,841 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,605,439.07. This represents a 31.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 1.55% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Navellier & Associates Inc. raised its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 36.5% in the 4th quarter. Navellier & Associates Inc. now owns 13,240 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $803,000 after acquiring an additional 3,539 shares in the last quarter. ING Groep NV bought a new position in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,086,000. C2P Capital Advisory Group LLC d.b.a. Prosperity Capital Advisors bought a new position in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $367,000. Cardinal Capital Management grew its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 0.9% in the 4th quarter. Cardinal Capital Management now owns 93,429 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $5,717,000 after buying an additional 799 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allworth Financial LP grew its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 46.8% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,814 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $110,000 after buying an additional 578 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

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.