Man Group plc Reduces Holdings in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Man Group plc cut its stake in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 55.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 17,862 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after selling 21,991 shares during the period. Man Group plc's holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $1,084,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 243.7% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 102,672 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $6,223,000 after buying an additional 72,802 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the period. Ballentine Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 13.8% in the 4th quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 5,519 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $335,000 after acquiring an additional 670 shares during the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 26,019 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $1,579,000 after acquiring an additional 429 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp raised its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 5.8% during the fourth quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 5,894 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $358,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company's stock.

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NFG traded up $0.18 during trading on Friday, reaching $82.18. 62,074 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 558,256. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. National Fuel Gas has a fifty-two week low of $53.03 and a fifty-two week high of $83.40. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.97 and a 200-day simple moving average of $71.38. The firm has a market cap of $7.42 billion, a PE ratio of -586.35 and a beta of 0.61.

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 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.18 by $0.21. National Fuel Gas had a positive return on equity of 15.96% and a negative net margin of 0.53%. The business had revenue of $729.95 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $770.81 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.79 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts predict that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio is presently 479.07%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on NFG shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Wall Street Zen raised National Fuel Gas from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price target on National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, National Fuel Gas presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $82.33.

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.