BNP Paribas Financial Markets Acquires 13,739 Shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 76.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 31,790 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after buying an additional 13,739 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets' holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $1,927,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Gabelli Funds LLC increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 2,533,482 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $137,289,000 after purchasing an additional 24,800 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 44.2% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,498,205 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $151,416,000 after buying an additional 765,236 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in National Fuel Gas by 0.3% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,274,893 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $69,086,000 after buying an additional 3,816 shares in the last quarter. Equity Investment Corp grew its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 0.4% during the second quarter. Equity Investment Corp now owns 1,246,822 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $67,565,000 after purchasing an additional 4,636 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in National Fuel Gas by 11.2% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 930,775 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock valued at $50,441,000 after buying an additional 93,780 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.96% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.27, for a total value of $1,216,257.64. Following the sale, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Michael W. Reville sold 1,700 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.77, for a total value of $103,309.00. Following the transaction, the general counsel now owns 8,203 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $498,496.31. This trade represents a 17.17 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.55% of the company's stock.

National Fuel Gas Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of NYSE NFG traded down $1.16 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $61.02. 317,403 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 486,360. National Fuel Gas has a 12 month low of $45.32 and a 12 month high of $65.06. The company has a market capitalization of $5.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 75.33 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.25. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $61.51 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $58.90.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.38%. National Fuel Gas's payout ratio is 254.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently commented on NFG. Argus upgraded National Fuel Gas to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Bank of America started coverage on shares of National Fuel Gas in a research report on Monday, October 28th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com downgraded National Fuel Gas from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday, November 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 12th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their target price on National Fuel Gas from $80.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 20th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $69.00.

National Fuel Gas Company Profile

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.