Focus Partners Wealth Raises Stock Position in National Grid plc (NYSE:NGG)

Focus Partners Wealth raised its stake in shares of National Grid plc (NYSE:NGG - Free Report) by 59.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,339 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 3,499 shares during the quarter. Focus Partners Wealth's holdings in National Grid were worth $557,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in National Grid during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its position in National Grid by 67.6% during the fourth quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 491 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its position in National Grid by 145.6% during the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 700 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC lifted its position in National Grid by 36.2% during the fourth quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 723 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp bought a new stake in National Grid during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $53,000. 4.68% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

National Grid Trading Up 1.6%

Shares of NGG traded up $1.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $74.78. The company's stock had a trading volume of 947,106 shares, compared to its average volume of 730,870. The company's fifty day moving average price is $68.96 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $63.78. National Grid plc has a 52 week low of $54.24 and a 52 week high of $74.82. The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. The stock has a market cap of $73.17 billion, a PE ratio of 14.38, a P/E/G ratio of 5.64 and a beta of 0.63.

National Grid Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 28th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $2.0345 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a yield of 4.7%. National Grid's dividend payout ratio is currently 78.08%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NGG has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a "buy" rating on shares of National Grid in a report on Wednesday. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded shares of National Grid from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, March 17th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of National Grid from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Friday, May 16th. UBS Group lowered shares of National Grid from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Finally, Barclays restated an "overweight" rating on shares of National Grid in a report on Friday, May 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold".

About National Grid

National Grid plc transmits and distributes electricity and gas. It operates through UK Electricity Transmission, UK Electricity Distribution, UK Electricity System Operator, New England, New York, National Grid Ventures, and Other segments. The UK Electricity Transmission segment provides electricity transmission and construction work services in England and Wales.