3,639 Shares in National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG) Purchased by Park Avenue Securities LLC

Park Avenue Securities LLC acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 3,639 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock, valued at approximately $288,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC raised its stake in National Fuel Gas by 14.3% in the fourth quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,221 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $76,000 after buying an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 7,288 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $442,000 after acquiring an additional 204 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 49.5% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 722 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Mariner LLC raised its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 20,291 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $1,231,000 after acquiring an additional 258 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in National Fuel Gas by 2.0% during the fourth quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 13,765 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $842,000 after purchasing an additional 274 shares during the last quarter. 73.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NFG has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen raised National Fuel Gas from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, June 14th. Bank of America upped their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an "underperform" rating in a report on Friday, May 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $82.33.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

NYSE:NFG traded up $0.85 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $85.42. 694,767 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 559,257. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 198.66, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 0.62. National Fuel Gas Company has a 1 year low of $53.88 and a 1 year high of $85.80. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $80.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $73.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86.

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 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.18 by $0.21. The business had revenue of $729.95 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $770.81 million. National Fuel Gas had a return on equity of 18.55% and a net margin of 1.91%. The company's revenue was up 15.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.79 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas Company will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.535 per share. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 30th. This is a boost from National Fuel Gas's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio is 497.67%.

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.