Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB Buys 1,134 Shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB increased its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 6.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 18,491 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after buying an additional 1,134 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $1,122,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 12.6% during the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 7,698 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $467,000 after acquiring an additional 859 shares during the period. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $238,000. Zacks Investment Management acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $957,000. Empowered Funds LLC acquired a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,277,000. Finally, Vestcor Inc acquired a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at $716,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on NFG shares. Argus raised shares of National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of National Fuel Gas in a report on Monday, October 28th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $62.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised shares of National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $69.00.

Insider Transactions at National Fuel Gas

In other National Fuel Gas news, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of National Fuel Gas 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 transaction, the insider now owns 81,519 shares in the company, valued at $5,101,459.02. The trade was a 10.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.27, for a total value of $1,216,257.64. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 41,841 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,605,439.07. The trade was a 31.83 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.41% of the stock is owned by insiders.

National Fuel Gas Trading Up 0.1 %

NFG opened at $71.98 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -514.08 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. National Fuel Gas has a twelve month low of $46.35 and a twelve month high of $73.13. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $64.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $61.86.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last issued 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 negative net margin of 0.53% and a positive return on equity of 15.96%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. 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 was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a $0.515 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.86%. National Fuel Gas’s payout ratio is -1,471.32%.

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.