Waldron Private Wealth LLC Reduces Stake in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Waldron Private Wealth LLC lessened its position in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 21.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 5,881 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 1,591 shares during the quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $357,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 44.2% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,498,205 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $151,416,000 after purchasing an additional 765,236 shares during the last quarter. Ibex Wealth Advisors bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $4,943,000. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 243.7% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 102,672 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $6,223,000 after buying an additional 72,802 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in National Fuel Gas by 33.3% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 220,869 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $13,386,000 after acquiring an additional 55,152 shares during the period. Finally, Synergy Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 86.3% during the 4th quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 92,881 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $5,662,000 after acquiring an additional 43,016 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at National Fuel Gas

In other National Fuel Gas news, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the firm’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 transaction of $1,216,257.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 41,841 shares in the company, valued at $2,605,439.07. This trade represents a 31.83 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of National Fuel Gas stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total value of $625,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 81,519 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,101,459.02. The trade was 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 insiders.

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

Shares of National Fuel Gas stock opened at $70.05 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $6.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -500.32 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $63.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.22. National Fuel Gas has a 52 week low of $45.32 and a 52 week high of $73.13.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 positive return on equity of 15.52% and a negative net margin of 0.53%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.46 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that National Fuel Gas will post 6.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a $0.515 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.94%. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio is currently -1,471.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NFG has been the subject of several analyst reports. Argus upgraded National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Bank of America initiated coverage on National Fuel Gas in a research report on Monday, October 28th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $62.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com cut National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $69.00.

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.