Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. Has $386,000 Stock Holdings in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) by 13.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,367 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock after buying an additional 767 shares during the period. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc.’s holdings in National Fuel Gas were worth $386,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. MQS Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of 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 period. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in National Fuel Gas by 82.9% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its position in National Fuel Gas by 49.5% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 722 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 239 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 5,906 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $358,000 after buying an additional 280 shares during the period. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of National Fuel Gas by 42.7% during the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 993 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 297 shares during the period. 73.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

National Fuel Gas Trading Up 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE:NFG opened at $74.65 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.76 billion, a PE ratio of -533.19 and a beta of 0.57. National Fuel Gas has a 1 year low of $50.44 and a 1 year high of $76.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $70.06 and a 200 day moving average price of $64.12.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.22. National Fuel Gas had a positive return on equity of 15.96% and a negative net margin of 0.53%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.46 earnings per share. Analysts expect that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.76%. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio is -1,471.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NFG has been the subject of several recent research reports. Argus upgraded National Fuel Gas to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, StockNews.com raised National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $74.67.

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.