Capital Fund Management S.A. Takes $1.15 Million Position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Capital Fund Management S.A. acquired a new position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 18,987 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock, valued at approximately $1,152,000.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 14.3% during 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 during the period. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its holdings in 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 worth $44,000 after buying an additional 239 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 5.0% during the fourth quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 5,906 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $358,000 after acquiring an additional 280 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 42.7% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 993 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $60,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the company's stock.

National Fuel Gas Stock Up 0.4 %

National Fuel Gas stock traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $79.01. 603,566 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 550,072. National Fuel Gas has a 12 month low of $51.81 and a 12 month high of $80.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.39. The company has a market cap of $7.15 billion, a PE ratio of -564.32 and a beta of 0.61. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $75.64 and a two-hundred day moving average of $67.50.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.22. National Fuel Gas had a negative net margin of 0.53% and a positive return on equity of 15.96%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were issued a $0.515 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.61%. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio is presently -1,471.43%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have issued reports on NFG. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, March 13th. StockNews.com lowered National Fuel Gas from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $74.67.

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.