Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) Stock Price Crosses Above Fifty Day Moving Average - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Navigator shares rose above their 50-day moving average, trading as high as $23.23 and most recently at $22.4470. The stock’s 50-day average was $21.28, while its 200-day average was $21.14.
• Analyst sentiment remains favorable, with five Buy ratings and one Hold rating, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $23.33. Citigroup raised its target to $27.
• Navigator exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting $0.85 in EPS versus the $0.53 consensus and revenue of $167.94 million versus estimates of $139.46 million. The company also paid a quarterly dividend of $0.07 per share, while two insiders recently reduced their holdings through stock sales.

Shares of Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS - Get Free Report) passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $21.28 and traded as high as $23.23. Navigator shares last traded at $22.4470, with a volume of 284,467 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Wall Street Zen upgraded Navigator from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 8th. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of Navigator from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 12th. Weiss Ratings raised Navigator from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Finally, Zacks Research cut Navigator from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $23.33.

Navigator Trading Down 2.2%

The firm's 50-day moving average price is $21.28 and its 200 day moving average price is $21.14. The company has a market cap of $1.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.34, a P/E/G ratio of 0.58 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61.

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 5th. The shipping company reported $0.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.32. The business had revenue of $167.94 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $139.46 million. Navigator had a net margin of 22.80% and a return on equity of 10.45%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Navigator Holdings Ltd. will post 1.76 EPS for the current year.

Navigator Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 19th were paid a $0.07 dividend. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. Navigator's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.90%.

Insider Activity at Navigator

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Navigator

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. First Manhattan CO. LLC. grew its position in Navigator by 27.8% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 1,430,009 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $24,768,000 after purchasing an additional 311,259 shares in the last quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in Navigator by 62.7% in the 1st quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,034,216 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $19,991,000 after acquiring an additional 398,615 shares during the period. Hodges Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Navigator by 19.6% during the first quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 661,790 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $12,792,000 after purchasing an additional 108,467 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in Navigator by 16.4% during the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 542,756 shares of the shipping company's stock valued at $7,224,000 after purchasing an additional 76,287 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bridgeway Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Navigator by 29.1% during the fourth quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 507,779 shares of the shipping company's stock worth $8,795,000 after purchasing an additional 114,532 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 18.95% of the company's stock.

About Navigator

Navigator Holdings Ltd. is a global shipping company specializing in the seaborne transportation of liquefied gases. The company's fleet is purpose-built to carry a range of petrochemical gases, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethylene, propylene and ammonia. Navigator's vessels are designed to meet the stringent safety and environmental standards required for handling pressurized and refrigerated gases, offering flexible capacity to customers across the energy and chemical sectors.

Navigator operates one of the largest and most modern fleets of gas carriers in the industry, with vessels ranging from fully pressurized gas carriers to specialized very large ethane carriers (VLECs).

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