Private Capital Management LLC Sells 3,500 Shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Private Capital Management LLC decreased its position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 15.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 19,500 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 3,500 shares during the period. Private Capital Management LLC’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $1,182,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Kentucky Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter worth about $28,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its holdings in 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 worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, S.A. Mason LLC purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. 73.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on NFG. Argus upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered 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 report on Tuesday, November 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $69.00.

Insider Activity at National Fuel Gas

In related news, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total value of $625,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 81,519 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,101,459.02. This represents a 10.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.27, for a total transaction of $1,216,257.64. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 41,841 shares in the company, 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. 1.41% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

National Fuel Gas Stock Down 0.4 %

NFG stock opened at $73.52 on Friday. National Fuel Gas has a twelve month low of $48.32 and a twelve month high of $74.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.66 billion, a PE ratio of -525.10 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. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $67.57 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $63.11.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 previous year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given 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 dividend yield of 2.80%. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -1,471.43%.

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.