Quantbot Technologies LP Boosts Stake in Northwest Natural Gas Company $NWN

Key Points

• Quantbot Technologies LP significantly increased its stake in Northwest Natural Gas Company by 478.3% during the first quarter, acquiring an additional 17,257 shares, bringing its total holdings to 20,865 shares worth $891,000.
• Northwest Natural Gas reported earnings of $0.01 EPS, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.07), but had revenue below expectations at $236.19 million.
• The company recently announced a dividend of $0.49 per share, with a current annualized yield of 4.7% and a payout ratio of 77.47%.

Quantbot Technologies LP lifted its stake in Northwest Natural Gas Company (NYSE:NWN - Free Report) by 478.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 20,865 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 17,257 shares during the period. Quantbot Technologies LP owned approximately 0.05% of Northwest Natural Gas worth $891,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Arizona State Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 2.6% in the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 11,511 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $492,000 after buying an additional 288 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 24.6% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,689 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $72,000 after buying an additional 334 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 3.8% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 10,450 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $446,000 after buying an additional 381 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 32.5% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 2,830 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $112,000 after buying an additional 694 shares during the period. Finally, Reaves W H & Co. Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 3.1% in the first quarter. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. now owns 25,944 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,108,000 after buying an additional 780 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.13% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northwest Natural Gas

In other Northwest Natural Gas news, Director David Hugo Anderson sold 7,574 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.43, for a total transaction of $306,216.82. Following the transaction, the director owned 79,717 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,222,958.31. This represents a 8.68% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In the last quarter, insiders sold 22,574 shares of company stock worth $918,517. 0.93% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Northwest Natural Gas Trading Up 0.5%

NYSE:NWN traded up $0.20 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $41.50. 193,421 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 263,562. Northwest Natural Gas Company has a 12-month low of $38.03 and a 12-month high of $44.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.40 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $40.87 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.30.

Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.07) by $0.08. Northwest Natural Gas had a return on equity of 8.60% and a net margin of 8.34%.The company had revenue of $236.19 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $252.70 million. Northwest Natural Gas has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.750-2.950 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Northwest Natural Gas Company will post 2.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Northwest Natural Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 31st were issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.7%. Northwest Natural Gas's dividend payout ratio is 77.47%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have recently commented on NWN. Zacks Research upgraded Northwest Natural Gas to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Northwest Natural Gas from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Northwest Natural Gas from $45.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, June 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $48.00.

About Northwest Natural Gas

Northwest Natural Holding Company, through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the United States. The company operates a mist gas storage facility contracted to other utilities, third-party marketers, and electric generators; offers natural gas asset management services; and operates an appliance retail center.