QRG Capital Management Inc. Buys Shares of 8,001 National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

QRG Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 8,001 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock, valued at approximately $434,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in National Fuel Gas by 0.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,313,064 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $715,178,000 after acquiring an additional 104,587 shares during the last quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC increased its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Energy Income Partners LLC now owns 2,595,437 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $139,427,000 after purchasing an additional 62,009 shares during the last quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC raised its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Gabelli Funds LLC now owns 2,508,682 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $134,766,000 after buying an additional 84,305 shares during the period. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL lifted its position in National Fuel Gas by 7.9% in the first quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 1,320,850 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $70,956,000 after buying an additional 96,410 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Equity Investment Corp lifted its position in National Fuel Gas by 27.7% in the first quarter. Equity Investment Corp now owns 1,242,186 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $66,730,000 after buying an additional 269,441 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

National Fuel Gas Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:NFG opened at $58.94 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.42 billion, a PE ratio of 11.69 and a beta of 0.62. National Fuel Gas has a 1 year low of $45.32 and a 1 year high of $59.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.50. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $56.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $53.60.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 31st. The oil and gas producer reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.96 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $417.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $540.62 million. National Fuel Gas had a net margin of 16.42% and a return on equity of 14.80%. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.01 earnings per share. Analysts predict that National Fuel Gas will post 6 EPS for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 28th were paid a $0.515 dividend. This is a boost from National Fuel Gas’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.50%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 28th. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.87%.

Insider Activity at National Fuel Gas

In other National Fuel Gas news, General Counsel Michael W. Reville sold 6,357 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.83, for a total transaction of $348,554.31. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 9,903 shares in the company, valued at approximately $542,981.49. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 1.55% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, August 5th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on National Fuel Gas from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 12th.

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.