Bernzott Capital Advisors Trims Stock Holdings in National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG)

Bernzott Capital Advisors decreased its position in National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 34.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 80,826 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after selling 42,399 shares during the period. National Fuel Gas makes up about 3.2% of Bernzott Capital Advisors' portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Bernzott Capital Advisors owned about 0.09% of National Fuel Gas worth $6,401,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its position in 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 worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. Donald L. Hagan LLC grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Donald L. Hagan LLC now owns 15,598 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $1,235,000 after purchasing an additional 183 shares during the period. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 7,288 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $442,000 after purchasing an additional 204 shares during the period. Allworth Financial LP grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 12.7% during the 1st quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,045 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $159,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares during the period. Finally, Mariner LLC grew its position 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 worth $1,231,000 after purchasing an additional 258 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have weighed in on NFG. Scotiabank increased their price target on National Fuel Gas from $88.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, July 11th. Wall Street Zen downgraded National Fuel Gas from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 12th. Finally, Bank of America raised National Fuel Gas from an "underperform" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $85.00 to $107.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, National Fuel Gas currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $95.33.

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

Shares of National Fuel Gas stock traded up $0.42 on Friday, hitting $88.45. The company's stock had a trading volume of 88,637 shares, compared to its average volume of 641,939. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.47. National Fuel Gas Company has a 1 year low of $56.29 and a 1 year high of $89.82. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $83.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $76.80. The company has a market capitalization of $7.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 205.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 0.62.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $2.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.18 by $0.21. National Fuel Gas had a return on equity of 18.55% and a net margin of 1.91%. The company had revenue of $729.95 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $770.81 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.79 EPS. National Fuel Gas's revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas Company will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a dividend of $0.535 per share. This is a boost from National Fuel Gas's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 30th. National Fuel Gas's payout ratio is currently 497.67%.

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.

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