Prudential PLC Sells 67,045 Shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Prudential PLC cut its stake in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 92.9% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,119 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 67,045 shares during the period. Prudential PLC’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $311,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC grew its stake in National Fuel Gas by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 1,221 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $76,000 after acquiring an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew its stake in National Fuel Gas by 49.5% in the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 722 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 5,906 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $358,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in National Fuel Gas by 42.7% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 993 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

National Fuel Gas Trading Down 0.4 %

NFG opened at $72.97 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The firm has a market cap of $6.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -521.18 and a beta of 0.61. National Fuel Gas has a 12 month low of $51.46 and a 12 month high of $80.14. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $74.71 and a 200-day moving average price of $66.55.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.22. National Fuel Gas had a negative net margin of 0.53% and a positive return on equity of 15.96%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.46 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.82%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio is currently -1,471.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on NFG shares. StockNews.com downgraded National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. 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, National Fuel Gas presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $74.67.

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.