Amundi Has $7.97 Million Stock Position in Northwest Natural Gas Company $NWN

Amundi lifted its holdings in shares of Northwest Natural Gas Company (NYSE:NWN - Free Report) by 1,283.8% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 162,508 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 150,764 shares during the period. Amundi owned approximately 0.39% of Northwest Natural Gas worth $7,973,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Northwest Natural Gas by 77.4% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 807 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 352 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 104.3% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 711 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 363 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its position in Northwest Natural Gas by 197.5% during the second quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 723 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 480 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in Northwest Natural Gas during the second quarter worth about $45,000. Finally, Kemnay Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Northwest Natural Gas in the fourth quarter worth about $70,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.13% of the company's stock.

Northwest Natural Gas Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NWN opened at $48.47 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.16 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $50.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $50.95. Northwest Natural Gas Company has a twelve month low of $41.50 and a twelve month high of $55.99.

Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.08) by $0.09. The company had revenue of $243.55 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $271.87 million. Northwest Natural Gas had a return on equity of 8.33% and a net margin of 9.75%.Northwest Natural Gas's revenue was up 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.01 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Northwest Natural Gas Company will post 3.04 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Northwest Natural Gas Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 31st were issued a $0.4925 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 31st. This represents a $1.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.1%. Northwest Natural Gas's dividend payout ratio is presently 65.67%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Northwest Natural Gas from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and set a $50.00 price objective for the company in a report on Thursday, August 6th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "buy (b-)" rating on shares of Northwest Natural Gas in a report on Wednesday, August 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, three have issued a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $55.25.

Insider Activity at Northwest Natural Gas

In related news, Director David Anderson sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.86, for a total value of $76,290.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 50,759 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,581,602.74. This represents a 2.87% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.55% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Northwest Natural Gas

Northwest Natural Gas Company, operating under Northwest Natural Holding Company, is an energy and utility company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Its principal business is the distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers, along with related utility and energy services.

Through its regulated natural gas utility, Northwest Natural serves customers in Oregon and southwest Washington. The company also has expanded beyond its traditional gas-distribution operations through businesses involved in water and wastewater services, renewable natural gas and other energy-related activities.

The company traces its history to 1859 and has developed into one of the Pacific Northwest's established natural gas utilities.

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