National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) Shares Sold by Quest Partners LLC

Quest Partners LLC cut its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 89.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,853 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after selling 24,991 shares during the quarter. Quest Partners LLC’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $173,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. MQS Management LLC boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. MQS Management LLC now owns 8,631 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $523,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 38.6% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 696 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. Cullen Investment Group LTD. boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Cullen Investment Group LTD. now owns 30,021 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $1,820,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 6.2% in the 2nd quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management now owns 4,182 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $227,000 after purchasing an additional 243 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 53,460 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $2,873,000 after purchasing an additional 244 shares during the last quarter. 73.96% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other National Fuel Gas news, General Counsel Michael W. Reville sold 1,700 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.77, for a total value of $103,309.00. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 8,203 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $498,496.31. This represents a 17.17 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. 1.55% of the stock is owned by insiders.

National Fuel Gas Price Performance

Shares of NFG opened at $63.43 on Thursday. National Fuel Gas has a fifty-two week low of $45.32 and a fifty-two week high of $65.06. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $61.13 and its 200 day moving average price is $58.57. The company has a market cap of $5.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 78.87 and a beta of 0.62. 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 firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Monday, September 30th were paid a dividend of $0.515 per share. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 30th. National Fuel Gas’s payout ratio is currently 254.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on NFG. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of National Fuel Gas from $80.00 to $81.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. 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 price objective on the stock. Argus upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective 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. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $69.00.

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.