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

Hartford Financial Management Inc. lessened its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 9.0% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. 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.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NFG. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas in the third quarter worth $28,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in National Fuel Gas during the third quarter worth about $29,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the period. Venturi Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 38.6% during the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 696 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares in the last quarter. 73.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 81,519 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,101,459.02. This represents a 10.93 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Justin I. Loweth sold 19,532 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.27, for a total value of $1,216,257.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 41,841 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,605,439.07. The trade was a 31.83 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.55% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

NYSE NFG opened at $70.29 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $63.36 and a 200 day simple moving average of $61.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.25 and a current ratio of 0.32. National Fuel Gas has a twelve month low of $45.32 and a twelve month high of $73.13.

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

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -1,471.32%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Argus raised National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. StockNews.com downgraded National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday. Bank of America started coverage on shares of National Fuel Gas in a report on Monday, October 28th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of 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 research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued 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, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target 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.