National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) Shares Sold by AQR Capital Management LLC

AQR Capital Management LLC lowered its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 6.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 834,199 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after selling 60,385 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC owned about 0.92% of National Fuel Gas worth $50,619,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew 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 worth $29,000 after buying an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. S.A. Mason LLC purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd raised its holdings in 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 during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.96% of the company's stock.

National Fuel Gas Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE NFG traded up $0.60 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $82.68. 70,861 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 557,067. The company has a market cap of $7.49 billion, a PE ratio of -590.03 and a beta of 0.61. National Fuel Gas has a twelve month low of $53.03 and a twelve month high of $82.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $77.10 and its 200-day simple moving average is $69.06.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $2.39 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.18 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $729.95 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $770.81 million. National Fuel Gas had a positive return on equity of 15.96% and a negative net margin of 0.53%. The business's revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.79 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were issued a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.49%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio is presently 479.07%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on NFG. 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. StockNews.com upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given 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, National Fuel Gas currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $74.67.

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.