National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) Share Price Crosses Above Fifty Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG)’s share price crossed above its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $80.56 and traded as high as $81.82. National Fuel Gas shares last traded at $81.7090, with a volume of 761,246 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NFG has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded National Fuel Gas from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 29th. KeyCorp reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of National Fuel Gas in a research report on Monday, August 31st. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised shares of National Fuel Gas from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $105.50.

National Fuel Gas Trading Up 1.5%

The company has a market capitalization of $7.77 billion, a PE ratio of 11.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.78 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 3.07 and a current ratio of 3.20. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $80.56 and a 200 day moving average price of $83.32.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:NFG) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The oil and gas producer reported $1.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.10. National Fuel Gas had a return on equity of 19.04% and a net margin of 26.97%. The business had revenue of $537.50 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $564.33 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.64 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that National Fuel Gas Company will post 7.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

National Fuel Gas Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 30th were issued a $0.5550 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, September 30th. This represents a $2.22 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.7%. National Fuel Gas’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 30.83%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its position in National Fuel Gas by 32.0% during the 3rd quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 5,798 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock worth $440,000 after purchasing an additional 1,404 shares during the period. Apollon Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 6.9% in the 3rd quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,144 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $314,000 after purchasing an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 61.5% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 4,483 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $340,000 after purchasing an additional 1,708 shares in the last quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI increased its holdings in National Fuel Gas by 29.1% in the 3rd quarter. Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI now owns 3,356 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $255,000 after purchasing an additional 756 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Simplicity Wealth LLC raised its position in National Fuel Gas by 7.1% in the third quarter. Simplicity Wealth LLC now owns 4,520 shares of the oil and gas producer’s stock valued at $343,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. 73.96% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

National Fuel Gas Company Profile

National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE:NFG) is a diversified energy company engaged in the exploration, production, gathering, transportation, storage and distribution of natural gas. Its operations span the natural gas value chain, with an emphasis on resources and infrastructure in the Appalachian Basin.

Through its exploration and production business, National Fuel develops natural gas reserves primarily in the Marcellus Shale of Pennsylvania. Its pipeline and storage operations transport and store natural gas for utilities, marketers and other customers, while its gathering systems connect production wells to larger transmission networks.

National Fuel also operates a regulated natural gas utility that distributes gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in portions of western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.