Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) Shares Break Below 200-Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Navigator shares fell below their 200-day moving average, trading as low as $19.73 and last changing hands at $20.00 versus the $21.15 average; the stock is down 7.0%.
• Despite the technical weakness, Navigator exceeded quarterly expectations with $0.85 EPS versus $0.53 forecast and revenue of $167.94 million versus $139.46 million expected. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with a $23.00 target price.
• Two insiders recently sold shares, while several institutional investors increased their holdings; institutions and hedge funds collectively own 18.95% of the company.

Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS - Get Free Report)'s share price passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of $21.15 and traded as low as $19.73. Navigator shares last traded at $20.00, with a volume of 524,624 shares traded.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on NVGS shares. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Navigator from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Navigator from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, August 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Navigator from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $23.00.

Navigator Stock Down 7.0%

The company has a market capitalization of $1.22 billion, a PE ratio of 9.22, a P/E/G ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a current ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.15.

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The shipping company reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.32. Navigator had a return on equity of 10.45% and a net margin of 22.80%. The business had revenue of $167.94 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $139.46 million. Research analysts expect that Navigator Holdings Ltd. will post 1.77 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Navigator

In other news, Director Peter George Charles An Stokes sold 5,000 shares of Navigator stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.28, for a total value of $101,400.00. Following the sale, the director owned 6,910 shares of the company's stock, valued at $140,134.80. The trade was a 41.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Oeyvind Lindeman sold 7,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.68, for a total transaction of $162,600.00. Following the transaction, the insider owned 7,246 shares in the company, valued at approximately $157,093.28. This trade represents a 50.86% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure.

Institutional Trading of Navigator

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NVGS. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Navigator by 62.7% in the first quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,034,216 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $19,991,000 after buying an additional 398,615 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in Navigator by 109.1% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 402,079 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $7,772,000 after acquiring an additional 209,760 shares in the last quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Navigator by 19.6% in the first quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 661,790 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $12,792,000 after acquiring an additional 108,467 shares in the last quarter. Monashee Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Navigator in the first quarter worth $1,450,000. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC lifted its holdings in Navigator by 48.1% in the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 122,310 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $2,279,000 after acquiring an additional 39,720 shares during the period. 18.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Navigator Company Profile

Navigator Holdings Ltd., operating under the name Navigator Gas, is a maritime transportation company that owns and operates a fleet of specialized gas carriers. The company transports liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petrochemical gases such as ethylene and ethane, ammonia and other liquefied gases for energy, industrial and chemical customers.

Its fleet includes semi-refrigerated and fully pressurized vessels, as well as ethylene-capable carriers designed to handle cargoes requiring specialized containment and temperature controls.

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