Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA Acquires 71,375 Shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 59.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 191,675 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after buying an additional 71,375 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned about 0.21% of National Fuel Gas worth $11,631,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 3.4% during the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,584,155 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $156,807,000 after purchasing an additional 85,950 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,199,787 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $146,502,000 after acquiring an additional 117,351 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter worth about $67,393,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter valued at about $16,906,000. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 33.3% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 220,869 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $13,386,000 after purchasing an additional 55,152 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

National Fuel Gas Stock Up 0.2 %

NYSE:NFG opened at $73.18 on Tuesday. National Fuel Gas has a 52 week low of $51.46 and a 52 week high of $80.14. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $74.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -522.64 and a beta of 0.61. 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 (NYSE:NFG) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 period in the prior year, the business earned $1.46 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.82%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio is presently -1,471.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NFG has been the topic of several research analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $74.67.

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.