Bridgewater Associates LP Takes Position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Bridgewater Associates LP bought a new position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 5,337 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock, valued at approximately $324,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of NFG. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,221 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $76,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in National Fuel Gas by 82.9% in 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 during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 49.5% in the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 722 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 239 shares in the last quarter. Mariner LLC grew its stake in National Fuel Gas by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 20,291 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $1,231,000 after acquiring an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 5.0% in the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 5,906 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $358,000 after acquiring an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. 73.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com upgraded National Fuel Gas from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, National Fuel Gas currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $74.67.

National Fuel Gas Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:NFG traded up $0.32 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $78.28. 92,078 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 549,304. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $76.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $67.97. The stock has a market cap of $7.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -558.82 and a beta of 0.61. National Fuel Gas has a fifty-two week low of $52.66 and a fifty-two week high of $80.14. 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 - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 earnings per share (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 last year, the business earned $1.46 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.63%. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -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.