1,651 Shares in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) Acquired by Wingate Wealth Advisors Inc.

Wingate Wealth Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 1,651 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock, valued at approximately $100,000.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position 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 purchasing an additional 859 shares in the last quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the 4th quarter valued at $238,000. Zacks Investment Management purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at $957,000. Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,277,000. Finally, Vestcor Inc purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at $716,000. 73.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

NYSE NFG opened at $71.98 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $6.52 billion, a PE ratio of -514.08 and a beta of 0.64. 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 has a twelve month low of $46.35 and a twelve month high of $73.13. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $64.51 and a 200-day simple moving average of $61.86.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last released 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 previous year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.86%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. National Fuel Gas’s payout ratio is -1,471.32%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on NFG shares. Bank of America started coverage on National Fuel Gas in a report on Monday, October 28th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com upgraded National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Argus upgraded National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $69.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total transaction of $625,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 81,519 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,101,459.02. This represents a 10.93 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the 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 in the company, 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 corporate insiders.

National Fuel Gas Company 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.