National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) Stake Lessened by Summit Investment Advisors Inc.

Summit Investment Advisors Inc. decreased its position in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 54,686 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 409 shares during the period. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. owned 0.06% of National Fuel Gas worth $3,318,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NFG. Kentucky Trust Co acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the period. S.A. Mason LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd lifted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 223.2% in the 4th quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd now owns 656 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 453 shares in the last quarter. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its stake in National Fuel Gas by 49.5% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 722 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the period. 73.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have issued reports on NFG shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, April 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $74.67.

National Fuel Gas Stock Up 3.3 %

NFG stock opened at $76.41 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $75.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $66.97. The company has a market cap of $6.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -545.72 and a beta of 0.61. National Fuel Gas has a 12-month low of $51.46 and a 12-month high of $80.14. 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 issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 EPS 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 period in the prior year, the company earned $1.46 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.70%. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio is currently -1,471.43%.

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.