Voya Investment Management LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Northwest Natural Gas Company $NWN

Key Points

• Voya Investment Management LLC has increased its stake in Northwest Natural Gas Company by 10.1%, bringing its total ownership to approximately 105,235 shares valued at $4,496,000.
• The company reported $0.01 earnings per share for the last quarter, surpassing expectations, with a revenue of $236.19 million, lower than forecasts.
• Northwest Natural Gas announced a quarterly dividend of $0.49 per share, providing a 4.6% dividend yield for investors, with a payout ratio of 77.47%.

Voya Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Northwest Natural Gas Company (NYSE:NWN - Free Report) by 10.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 105,235 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 9,612 shares during the quarter. Voya Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.26% of Northwest Natural Gas worth $4,496,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Arizona State Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 11,511 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $492,000 after acquiring an additional 288 shares in the last quarter. Corebridge Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Northwest Natural Gas by 1.5% in the first quarter. Corebridge Financial Inc. now owns 20,902 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $893,000 after purchasing an additional 314 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 24.6% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,689 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 3.8% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 10,450 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $446,000 after purchasing an additional 381 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Reaves W H & Co. Inc. boosted its position in shares of Northwest Natural Gas by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Reaves W H & Co. Inc. now owns 25,944 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,108,000 after purchasing an additional 780 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.13% of the company's stock.

Northwest Natural Gas Trading Up 0.3%

Shares of NWN stock opened at $42.51 on Friday. 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 market cap of $1.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.80 and a beta of 0.59. Northwest Natural Gas Company has a 1 year low of $38.03 and a 1 year high of $44.38. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $41.17 and a 200-day moving average price of $41.34.

Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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. As a group, equities analysts predict that Northwest Natural Gas Company will post 2.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Northwest Natural Gas Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 31st were given a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 31st. Northwest Natural Gas's payout ratio is presently 77.47%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director David Hugo Anderson sold 7,795 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.13, for a total value of $328,403.35. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 71,922 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,030,073.86. This represents a 9.78% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 22,869 shares of company stock worth $949,320. Insiders own 0.93% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on NWN shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on Northwest Natural Gas from $45.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, June 13th. Zacks Research raised Northwest Natural Gas to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 12th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $48.00.

Northwest Natural Gas Company Profile

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.

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