MQS Management LLC Has $523,000 Stock Position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

MQS Management LLC boosted its position in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 2.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,631 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after buying an additional 166 shares during the quarter. MQS Management LLC’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $523,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. bought a new position in National Fuel Gas in the 1st quarter worth approximately $905,000. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 20.2% in the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 190,996 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $10,260,000 after purchasing an additional 32,121 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE grew its position in National Fuel Gas by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 25,400 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $1,364,000 after purchasing an additional 1,105 shares during the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. bought a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas during the 1st quarter worth about $429,000. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP increased its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas by 10.6% during the 1st quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 18,830 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $1,012,000 after purchasing an additional 1,808 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NFG has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com downgraded National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, October 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on National Fuel Gas from $65.00 to $64.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Bank of America initiated coverage on National Fuel Gas in a research note on Monday, October 28th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. Finally, Scotiabank raised their target price on National Fuel Gas from $80.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a “sector outperform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th.

National Fuel Gas Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:NFG opened at $60.93 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 75.22 and a beta of 0.62. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $60.68 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $58.08. National Fuel Gas has a fifty-two week low of $45.32 and a fifty-two week high of $63.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.32 and a quick ratio of 0.25.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 30th were given a $0.515 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, September 30th. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.38%. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 254.32%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, General Counsel Michael W. Reville sold 1,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.77, for a total transaction of $103,309.00. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 8,203 shares in the company, valued at $498,496.31. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 1.55% of the company’s stock.

About National Fuel Gas

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.