Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. Acquires 39,479 Shares of National Fuel Gas Company $NFG

Key Points

• Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors increased its National Fuel Gas stake by 75.5%, adding 39,479 shares to hold 91,770 shares valued at approximately $6.96 million. Institutional investors collectively own 73.96% of NFG.
• National Fuel Gas reported quarterly earnings of $1.54 per share, exceeding estimates of $1.44, while revenue reached $537.5 million and rose 1.1% year over year.
• The company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.555 per share, equivalent to a 2.8% annual yield. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $105.50, compared with a share price of $79.31.

Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. raised its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 75.5% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 91,770 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after acquiring an additional 39,479 shares during the quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisors L.P. owned approximately 0.10% of National Fuel Gas worth $6,962,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in NFG. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. grew its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 458.0% during the first quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 279 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. Cassaday & Co Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Pension & Wealth Management Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Bogart Wealth LLC raised its stake in National Fuel Gas by 170.2% during the 1st quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 516 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares during the period. Finally, SHP Wealth Management purchased a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 4th quarter worth approximately $44,000. 73.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

National Fuel Gas Stock Down 0.7%

NFG opened at $79.31 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $80.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $81.44. National Fuel Gas Company has a 52 week low of $75.03 and a 52 week high of $97.06. The company has a market capitalization of $7.54 billion, a PE ratio of 11.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.77 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 3.07, a current ratio of 3.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.54 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.10. National Fuel Gas had a return on equity of 19.04% and a net margin of 26.97%. The firm had revenue of $537.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $564.33 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.64 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 1.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that National Fuel Gas Company will post 7.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 30th were issued a dividend of $0.5550 per share. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 30th. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 30.83%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on NFG shares. Weiss Ratings upgraded National Fuel Gas from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of National Fuel Gas from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Saturday, August 29th. Finally, KeyCorp reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of National Fuel Gas in a report on Monday, August 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, National Fuel Gas currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $105.50.

About National Fuel Gas

National Fuel Gas Company NYSE: NFG is a diversified energy company engaged in the exploration, production, gathering, transportation, storage and distribution of natural gas. Its operations span the natural gas value chain, with an emphasis on resources and infrastructure in the Appalachian Basin.

Through its exploration and production business, National Fuel develops natural gas reserves primarily in the Marcellus Shale of Pennsylvania. Its pipeline and storage operations transport and store natural gas for utilities, marketers and other customers, while its gathering systems connect production wells to larger transmission networks.

National Fuel also operates a regulated natural gas utility that distributes gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in portions of western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.

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