Pictet Asset Management Holding SA Acquires 971 Shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Pictet Asset Management Holding SA increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 7.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 14,210 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after purchasing an additional 971 shares during the quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $862,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,584,155 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $156,807,000 after buying an additional 85,950 shares during the period. Norges Bank bought a new position in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $67,393,000. Franklin Resources Inc. lifted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 33.3% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 220,869 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $13,386,000 after purchasing an additional 55,152 shares during the period. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 214,098 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $12,991,000 after purchasing an additional 1,667 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. increased its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. now owns 159,753 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $9,694,000 after buying an additional 792 shares during the period. 73.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NFG has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. 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 report on Thursday, March 13th. StockNews.com upgraded National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $74.67.

National Fuel Gas Trading Down 7.2 %

NFG opened at $73.11 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $74.41 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $66.33. National Fuel Gas has a 1-year low of $51.46 and a 1-year high of $80.14. The company has a market cap of $6.62 billion, a P/E ratio of -522.21 and a beta of 0.61. 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 posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping 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 prior year, the company posted $1.46 EPS. Analysts predict that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.82%. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -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.