NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI) Receives $38.13 Consensus PT from Brokerages

NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI - Get Free Report) has earned an average recommendation of "Buy" from the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $38.13.

NI has been the subject of several recent research reports. Mizuho lifted their price target on NiSource from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of NiSource in a research note on Monday, October 28th. They set a "buy" rating and a $39.00 target price for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on NiSource from $39.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th.

NiSource Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NI traded up $0.11 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $40.09. 5,460,101 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,914,759. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 0.51 and a quick ratio of 0.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.84 billion, a PE ratio of 24.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.54. NiSource has a one year low of $25.59 and a one year high of $40.22. The company's 50 day moving average is $37.35 and its 200 day moving average is $35.54.

NiSource (NYSE:NI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The utilities provider reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.54 by ($0.05). NiSource had a return on equity of 7.87% and a net margin of 13.94%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.53 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that NiSource will post 1.91 earnings per share for the current year.

NiSource Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.28 per share. This is a boost from NiSource's previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.79%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 3rd. NiSource's payout ratio is currently 69.14%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CAO Gunnar Gode sold 5,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.92, for a total value of $219,560.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 24,758 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $988,339.36. This represents a 18.18 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its position in shares of NiSource by 29.6% during the fourth quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 256,294 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $9,421,000 after buying an additional 58,471 shares during the period. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of NiSource in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $133,000. White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in NiSource by 97.0% in the 4th quarter. White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 13,290 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $489,000 after buying an additional 6,545 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its position in shares of NiSource by 10.8% during the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 2,867,242 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $105,400,000 after buying an additional 280,453 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Woodline Partners LP bought a new stake in shares of NiSource during the fourth quarter worth $1,030,000. Institutional investors own 91.64% of the company's stock.

NiSource Company Profile

NiSource Inc, an energy holding company, operates as a regulated natural gas and electric utility company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Gas Distribution Operations and Electric Operations. The company distributes natural gas to approximately 3.3 million customers through approximately 55,000 miles of distribution main pipeline and the associated individual customer service lines; and 1,000 miles of transmission main pipeline in northern Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland.