R.H. Investment Group LLC Buys New Stake in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

R.H. Investment Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 3,350 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock, valued at approximately $203,000.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 12.6% in the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 7,698 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $467,000 after acquiring an additional 859 shares in the last quarter. Zacks Investment Management purchased a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at about $957,000. Empowered Funds LLC purchased a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,277,000. Vestcor Inc acquired a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter worth about $716,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 76.1% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 31,790 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $1,927,000 after buying an additional 13,739 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

Insider Activity at National Fuel Gas

In related news, insider Donna L. Decarolis sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.58, for a total transaction of $625,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 81,519 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,101,459.02. This represents a 10.93 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of National Fuel Gas stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at approximately $2,605,439.07. This trade represents a 31.83 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.55% of the stock is owned by insiders.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

NYSE:NFG opened at $65.04 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $5.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 80.30 and a beta of 0.64. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $61.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $59.95. National Fuel Gas has a fifty-two week low of $45.32 and a fifty-two week high of $65.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.17%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 254.32%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on NFG. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of 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. Argus raised National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. StockNews.com raised National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday. 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 research report on Tuesday, November 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, National Fuel Gas has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $69.00.

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.