Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. Sells 16,829 Shares of National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG)

Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. reduced its stake in National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 13.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 109,375 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after selling 16,829 shares during the quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. owned about 0.12% of National Fuel Gas worth $8,661,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of NFG. Allworth Financial LP raised its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 46.8% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,814 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $110,000 after acquiring an additional 578 shares during the period. ING Groep NV bought a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,086,000. Wealthspire Advisors LLC raised its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Wealthspire Advisors LLC now owns 11,826 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $718,000 after acquiring an additional 326 shares during the period. Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 4th quarter valued at about $862,000. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 9,300 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $564,000 after acquiring an additional 405 shares during the period. 73.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:NFG opened at $86.00 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The firm has a market cap of $7.77 billion, a PE ratio of 200.01, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 0.62. The company's 50 day moving average price is $81.34 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $74.02. National Fuel Gas Company has a 12-month low of $53.88 and a 12-month high of $86.45.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $2.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.18 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $729.95 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $770.81 million. National Fuel Gas had a net margin of 1.91% and a return on equity of 18.55%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 15.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.79 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that National Fuel Gas Company will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.535 per share. This is a positive change from National Fuel Gas's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.49%. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 497.67%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NFG has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of National Fuel Gas from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Finally, Bank of America increased their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an "underperform" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus 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.

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