National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) Downgraded by StockNews.com to "Sell"

StockNews.com downgraded shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Monday.

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, March 13th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, National Fuel Gas currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $74.67.

National Fuel Gas Stock Up 3.3 %

Shares of NYSE NFG traded up $2.47 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $76.41. 796,803 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 548,470. The firm's fifty day simple moving average is $75.01 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.91. National Fuel Gas has a twelve month low of $51.46 and a twelve month high of $80.14. 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 company has a market cap of $6.92 billion, a PE ratio of -545.72 and a beta of 0.61.

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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 earnings per share 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 previous year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.70%. National Fuel Gas's dividend payout ratio is currently -1,471.43%.

Institutional Trading of National Fuel Gas

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 3.4% in the fourth quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,584,155 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $156,807,000 after acquiring an additional 85,950 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,199,787 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $146,502,000 after buying an additional 117,351 shares in the last quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL raised its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 5.1% during the fourth quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 1,447,665 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $87,844,000 after purchasing an additional 70,332 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 4th quarter worth $67,393,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 37.9% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,019,072 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $61,837,000 after purchasing an additional 279,857 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company's stock.

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.