Synergy Asset Management LLC Increases Position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Synergy Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG - Free Report) by 86.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 92,881 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock after buying an additional 43,016 shares during the period. Synergy Asset Management LLC owned about 0.10% of National Fuel Gas worth $5,662,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of NFG. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in National Fuel Gas by 44.2% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,498,205 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $151,416,000 after acquiring an additional 765,236 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in National Fuel Gas by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 920,918 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $55,817,000 after acquiring an additional 7,830 shares during the period. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. increased its stake in National Fuel Gas by 8.1% during the 3rd quarter. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. now owns 325,966 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $19,757,000 after acquiring an additional 24,564 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its stake in National Fuel Gas by 33.3% during the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 220,869 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $13,386,000 after acquiring an additional 55,152 shares during the period. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its stake in National Fuel Gas by 19.1% during the 3rd quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 205,561 shares of the oil and gas producer's stock worth $12,459,000 after acquiring an additional 33,022 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at National Fuel Gas

In other National Fuel Gas news, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of National Fuel Gas stock in a transaction dated 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 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 position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of National Fuel Gas stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total value of $625,800.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 81,519 shares in the company, valued at $5,101,459.02. The trade was a 10.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.41% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have commented on NFG. StockNews.com lowered National Fuel Gas from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Argus upgraded National Fuel Gas to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Bank of America assumed coverage on National Fuel Gas in a research note on Monday, October 28th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, National Fuel Gas currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $69.00.

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

Shares of NFG stock traded up $1.87 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $71.90. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,079,193 shares, compared to its average volume of 712,190. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $63.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.24. The company has a market capitalization of $6.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -513.53 and a beta of 0.64. National Fuel Gas has a fifty-two week low of $45.32 and a fifty-two week high of $73.13. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.

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 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.46 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a dividend of $0.515 per share. 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.