Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC Invests $16.91 Million in National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG)

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 278,612 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock, valued at approximately $16,906,000. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC owned about 0.31% of National Fuel Gas as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of NFG. Kentucky Trust Co purchased a new position in National Fuel Gas during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. lifted its position in shares of National Fuel Gas by 82.9% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 481 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. S.A. Mason LLC bought a new position in shares of National Fuel Gas during the fourth quarter valued at about $38,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC boosted its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 49.5% during the fourth quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 722 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IAG Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in National Fuel Gas in the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. Institutional investors own 73.96% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com upgraded National Fuel Gas from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on National Fuel Gas from $77.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given 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, National Fuel Gas has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $74.67.

National Fuel Gas Stock Up 0.2 %

NFG opened at $78.81 on Monday. National Fuel Gas has a twelve month low of $51.46 and a twelve month high of $79.49. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $73.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $65.70. The stock has a market cap of $7.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -562.85 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.66 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 period in the prior year, the business earned $1.46 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that National Fuel Gas will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

National Fuel Gas Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.515 dividend. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -1,471.43%.

National Fuel Gas Company 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.