Alliance Global Partners Begins Coverage on Navigator (NYSE:NVGS)

Alliance Global Partners initiated coverage on shares of Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) in a research note released on Monday, Marketbeat reports. The firm issued a buy rating and a $24.00 price objective on the shipping company’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. StockNews.com cut shares of Navigator from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, October 14th. Citigroup started coverage on Navigator in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. They issued a “buy” rating and a $22.00 price objective for the company. Clarkson Capital raised Navigator from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $20.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. DNB Markets assumed coverage on Navigator in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $22.00 price target for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $20.00 price objective on shares of Navigator in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $21.60.

Navigator Stock Performance

Navigator stock opened at $15.41 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $1.13 billion, a PE ratio of 13.64 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $16.09 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.30. Navigator has a 12-month low of $13.72 and a 12-month high of $18.18.

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 14th. The shipping company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $129.55 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $117.92 million. Navigator had a return on equity of 7.35% and a net margin of 14.76%. As a group, analysts expect that Navigator will post 1.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Navigator Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were given a $0.05 dividend. This represents a $0.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.30%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. Navigator’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.70%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Navigator

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in Navigator in the second quarter worth $38,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Navigator in the 2nd quarter valued at about $48,000. Perkins Coie Trust Co bought a new stake in Navigator in the 2nd quarter valued at about $105,000. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its stake in Navigator by 9.1% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 8,221 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $132,000 after buying an additional 684 shares during the period. Finally, Aristides Capital LLC bought a new position in Navigator in the first quarter worth approximately $252,000. Institutional investors own 18.95% of the company’s stock.

Navigator Company Profile

Navigator Holdings Ltd. engages in owning and operating a fleet of liquefied gas carriers worldwide. It provides international and regional seaborne transportation services of petrochemical gases, liquefied petroleum gases, and ammonia for energy companies, industrial users, and commodity traders. The company also offers ship shore infrastructure and consultancy services.