Confluence Wealth Services Inc. Buys New Shares in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Confluence Wealth Services Inc. acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 4,647 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock, valued at approximately $282,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas during the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in National Fuel Gas in the third quarter worth $29,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas in the third quarter valued at $35,000. Finally, S.A. Mason LLC bought a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas in the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on NFG. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of National Fuel Gas in a research report on Monday, October 28th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $62.00 price objective for the company. Argus upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded National Fuel Gas from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $69.00.

Insider Activity at National Fuel Gas

In related news, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total value of $625,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 81,519 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,101,459.02. The trade was a 10.93 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.27, for a total transaction of $1,216,257.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 41,841 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,605,439.07. The trade was a 31.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.41% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

National Fuel Gas Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of National Fuel Gas stock traded down $0.37 on Friday, hitting $71.86. 500,014 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 712,072. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $64.33 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $61.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.51 billion, a PE ratio of -513.22 and a beta of 0.64. National Fuel Gas has a one year low of $45.32 and a one year high of $73.13.

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

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.87%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -1,471.32%.

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.