Citigroup Initiates Coverage on Navigator (NYSE:NVGS)

Citigroup started coverage on shares of Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) in a research note published on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $22.00 price target on the shipping company’s stock.

Separately, StockNews.com raised Navigator from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 21st.

Navigator Trading Down 2.5 %

Shares of NYSE NVGS opened at $15.72 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $16.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $16.01. Navigator has a 52-week low of $12.80 and a 52-week high of $18.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.15. The company has a market cap of $1.15 billion, a PE ratio of 13.44 and a beta of 1.51.

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 15th. The shipping company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.31. Navigator had a net margin of 15.68% and a return on equity of 6.86%. The company had revenue of $119.97 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $121.51 million. On average, equities research analysts expect that Navigator will post 1.43 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Navigator Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 4th were paid a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 4th. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.27%. Navigator’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 17.09%.

Institutional Trading of Navigator

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. CWM LLC bought a new stake in shares of Navigator during the 4th quarter valued at about $54,000. Perkins Coie Trust Co bought a new stake in Navigator during the second quarter valued at approximately $105,000. Semanteon Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Navigator during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $221,000. Aristides Capital LLC bought a new position in Navigator in the first quarter worth approximately $252,000. Finally, Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Navigator during the 4th quarter worth $319,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 18.95% of the company’s stock.

Navigator Company Profile

Navigator Holdings Ltd. engages in owning and operating a fleet of liquefied gas carriers worldwide. It provides international and regional seaborne transportation services of petrochemical gases, liquefied petroleum gases, and ammonia for energy companies, industrial users, and commodity traders. The company also offers ship shore infrastructure and consultancy services.