QRG Capital Management Inc. Increases Stock Holdings in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 4.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,300 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after buying an additional 405 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc.’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $564,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kentucky Trust Co acquired a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas in the third quarter worth $35,000. Finally, S.A. Mason LLC purchased a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter worth $38,000. 73.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other National Fuel Gas news, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of National Fuel Gas stock in a transaction 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 completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 81,519 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,101,459.02. The trade was a 10.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 1.41% of the company’s stock.

National Fuel Gas Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of National Fuel Gas stock opened at $74.76 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $6.77 billion, a PE ratio of -533.98 and a beta of 0.64. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $68.18 and a 200 day moving average price of $63.40. National Fuel Gas has a 1 year low of $49.90 and a 1 year high of $76.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.33.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 last year, the company posted $1.46 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current 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. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.76%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. National Fuel Gas’s payout ratio is presently -1,471.43%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently issued reports on NFG. StockNews.com raised National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Argus upgraded National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus 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.