Avantax Advisory Services Inc. Lowers Position in National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG)

Avantax Advisory Services Inc. decreased its holdings in National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 25.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,143 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after selling 3,125 shares during the quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc.'s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $724,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of NFG. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd boosted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 223.2% during the 4th quarter. Aster Capital Management DIFC Ltd now owns 656 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 453 shares in the last quarter. Cranbrook Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the first quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Inlight Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the first quarter worth approximately $40,000. 73.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on NFG. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of National Fuel Gas from $88.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 11th. Bank of America raised National Fuel Gas from an "underperform" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their target price for the company from $85.00 to $107.00 in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded National Fuel Gas from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $95.33.

National Fuel Gas Stock Up 0.2%

NFG stock traded up $0.22 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $86.98. 491,337 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 648,231. The stock has a market cap of $7.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.70, a P/E/G ratio of 0.51 and a beta of 0.65. National Fuel Gas Company has a fifty-two week low of $58.30 and a fifty-two week high of $89.82. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $84.87 and its 200 day moving average price is $79.09. 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 announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.14. National Fuel Gas had a return on equity of 20.81% and a net margin of 11.15%. The company had revenue of $531.83 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $596.12 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.99 earnings per share. National Fuel Gas's quarterly revenue was up 27.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research 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 disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th were paid a $0.535 dividend. This is a positive change from National Fuel Gas's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 80.45%.

National Fuel Gas Profile

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.