Panagora Asset Management Inc. Buys 134,155 Shares of National Fuel Gas Company $NFG

Key Points

• Panagora Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in National Fuel Gas Company by 3,072.0%, owning 138,522 shares worth approximately $10.97 million at the end of the first quarter.
• Several institutional investors have also adjusted their holdings, with total institutional ownership at 73.96% of the company's stock.
• National Fuel Gas recently increased its quarterly dividend to $0.535 per share, reflecting a 2.5% yield, up from the previous dividend of $0.52.

Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 3,072.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 138,522 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after acquiring an additional 134,155 shares during the quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.15% of National Fuel Gas worth $10,970,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Assetmark Inc. grew its stake in National Fuel Gas by 9,475.0% during the 1st quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 383 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new position in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 316.7% in the 1st quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 400 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 304 shares in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company's stock.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

Shares of NFG stock traded down $0.25 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $86.58. 500,221 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 634,965. National Fuel Gas Company has a fifty-two week low of $58.50 and a fifty-two week high of $89.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.55, a P/E/G ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 0.61. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $86.41 and a 200-day moving average price of $81.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.64 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $531.83 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $596.12 million. National Fuel Gas had a return on equity of 20.81% and a net margin of 11.15%.National Fuel Gas's revenue was up 27.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.99 earnings per share. National Fuel Gas has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.000-8.500 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 6.800-6.950 EPS. Analysts predict that National Fuel Gas Company will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th were paid a $0.535 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. This is a positive change from National Fuel Gas's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. This represents a $2.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio is currently 80.45%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Scotiabank reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of National Fuel Gas in a research note on Wednesday, August 13th. Zacks Research cut National Fuel Gas from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, August 18th. Bank of America raised National Fuel Gas from an "underperform" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $85.00 to $107.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered National Fuel Gas from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, August 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $96.67.

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.