Hartford Financial Management Inc. Sells 793 Shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Hartford Financial Management Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 9.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,005 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 793 shares during the period. Hartford Financial Management Inc.’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $486,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 3.0% in the second quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 11,152 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $617,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning grew its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 31,917 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $1,730,000 after buying an additional 1,228 shares during the period. Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas in the 2nd quarter valued at about $992,000. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 225.7% in the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 13,303 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $806,000 after acquiring an additional 9,219 shares during the period. Finally, Cullen Investment Group LTD. boosted its stake in National Fuel Gas by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Cullen Investment Group LTD. now owns 30,021 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $1,820,000 after acquiring an additional 202 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 Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total value of $625,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 81,519 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,101,459.02. This trade represents a 10.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the business’s 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 owns 41,841 shares in the company, valued at $2,605,439.07. This represents a 31.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.55% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have commented on NFG. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of 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. StockNews.com cut shares of National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday. Bank of America initiated coverage on National Fuel Gas in a report on Monday, October 28th. They set an “underperform” rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Argus upgraded National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given 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 has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $69.00.

National Fuel Gas Trading Up 2.7 %

Shares of NFG stock opened at $70.29 on Friday. National Fuel Gas has a 12-month low of $45.32 and a 12-month high of $73.13. 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 firm has a fifty day moving average of $63.36 and a 200-day moving average of $61.10.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.22. National Fuel Gas had a positive return on equity of 15.52% and a negative net margin of 0.53%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that National Fuel Gas will post 6.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. National Fuel Gas’s payout ratio is -1,471.32%.

National Fuel Gas 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.