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National Fuel Gas

National Fuel Gas Co is a diversified energy company engaged in the production, gathering, transportation, distribution, and marketing of natural gas. The operating segments of the company are the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment, and the Utility segment. The company generates a majority of its revenue from the Exploration and Production segment which is engaged in the exploration for, and the development and production of, natural gas in the Appalachian region of the United States. Geographically, the company operates in the United States.

National Fuel Gas Co

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JP Morgan analyst Zach Parham maintains National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $65 to $64.

News

Price Target

Analyst Ratings

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on National Fuel Gas, Lowers Price Target to $64

Earnings

Guidance

National Fuel Gas Company Sees FY25 Adj. Operating Results $5.50-$6.00 Per Share

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.77 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $0.84 by 8.33 percent. The company reported quarterly sales of $372.07 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $524.69 million by 29.09 percent. This is a 0.85 percent increase over sales of $368.95 million the same period last year.

Earnings Misses

National Fuel Gas Q4 2024 Adj EPS $0.77 Misses $0.84 Estimate, Sales $372.07M Miss $524.69M Estimate

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) is set to give its latest quarterly earnings report on Wednesday, 2024-11-06. Here's what investors need to know before the announcement.
Analysts estimate that National Fuel Gas will report an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.84. 
Anticipation surrounds National Fuel Gas's announcement, with investors hoping to hear about both surpassing estimates and receiving positive guidance for the next quarter.
New investors should understand that while earnings performance is important, market reactions are often driven by guidance.
<h3>Past Earnings Performance</h3>
Last quarter the company beat EPS by $0.03, which was followed by a 1.02% increase in the share price the next day.
Here's a look at National Fuel Gas's past performance and the resulting price change:

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Quarter</th>
<th>Q3 2024</th>
<th>Q2 2024</th>
<th>Q1 2024</th>
<th>Q4 2023</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>EPS Estimate</td>
<td>0.96</td>
<td>1.54</td>
<td>1.33</td>
<td>0.85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>EPS Actual</td>
<td>0.99</td>
<td>1.79</td>
<td>1.46</td>
<td>0.78</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Price Change %</td>
<td>1.0%</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
<td>6.0%</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1730826109_0_0.png" alt="eps graph" />
<h3>National Fuel Gas Share Price Analysis</h3>
Shares of National Fuel Gas were trading at $59.8 as of November 04. Over the last 52-week period, shares are up 18.92%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are likely bullish going into this earnings release. 
<h3>Analyst Insights on National Fuel Gas</h3>
For investors, grasping market sentiments and expectations in the industry is vital. This analysis explores the latest insights regarding National Fuel Gas.
The consensus rating for National Fuel Gas is Neutral, based on 2 analyst ratings. With an average one-year price target of $71.5, there's a potential 19.57% upside.
<h3>Analyzing Ratings Among Peers</h3>
The following analysis focuses on the analyst ratings and average 1-year price targets of Southwest Gas Hldgs, UGI and New Jersey Resources, three prominent industry players, providing insights into their relative performance expectations and market positioning.
<ul>
<li>The consensus among analysts is an Neutral trajectory for Southwest Gas Hldgs, with an average 1-year price target of $74.0, indicating a potential 23.75% upside.</li>
<li>UGI received a Neutral consensus from analysts, with an average 1-year price target of $27.0, implying a potential 54.85% downside.</li>
<li>New Jersey Resources received a Neutral consensus from analysts, with an average 1-year price target of $49.0, implying a potential 18.06% downside.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Snapshot: Peer Analysis</h3>
The peer analysis summary presents essential metrics for Southwest Gas Hldgs, UGI and New Jersey Resources, unveiling their respective standings within the industry and providing valuable insights into their market positions and comparative performance.

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Consensus</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
<th>Gross Profit</th>
<th>Return on Equity</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>National Fuel Gas</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>-2.63%</td>
<td>$170.46M</td>
<td>-1.69%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Southwest Gas Hldgs</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>-8.62%</td>
<td>$200.52M</td>
<td>0.54%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UGI</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>-16.82%</td>
<td>$741M</td>
<td>-1.03%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>New Jersey Resources</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>4.38%</td>
<td>$55.19M</td>
<td>-0.54%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Key Takeaway:
National Fuel Gas is at the bottom for Revenue Growth and Gross Profit, while it is in the middle for Return on Equity.
<h3>Delving into National Fuel Gas's Background</h3>
National Fuel Gas Co is a diversified energy company engaged in the production, gathering, transportation, distribution, and marketing of natural gas. The operating segments of the company are the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment, and the Utility segment. Geographically it generates revenue from the United States and majorly it generates revenue from Exploration and Production segment.
<h3>Unraveling the Financial Story of National Fuel Gas</h3>
Market Capitalization: Positioned above industry average, the company's market capitalization underscores its superiority in size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Growth: National Fuel Gas's revenue growth over a period of 3 months has faced challenges. As of 30 June, 2024, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -2.63%. This indicates a decrease in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Utilities sector.
Net Margin: National Fuel Gas's net margin lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of -12.97%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): National Fuel Gas's ROE is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of -1.69%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): National Fuel Gas's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of -0.63%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: National Fuel Gas's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 0.86, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NFG/earnings">To track all earnings releases for National Fuel Gas visit their earnings calendar on our site.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

National Fuel Gas's Earnings Outlook

JP Morgan analyst Zach Parham maintains National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $64 to $62.

JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on National Fuel Gas, Lowers Price Target to $62

Scotiabank analyst Cameron Bean maintains National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $80 to $81.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on National Fuel Gas, Raises Price Target to $81

RONALD KRAEMER, Chief Operating Officer at National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>), reported an insider sell on August 15, according to a new SEC filing. 
What Happened: A Form 4 filing from the <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000070145/000156218024006292//Archives/edgar/data/70145/000156218024006292/0001562180-24-006292-index.htm">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</a> on Thursday showed that KRAEMER sold 7,639 shares of National Fuel Gas. The total transaction amounted to $448,791. 
As of Friday morning, National Fuel Gas shares are down by 0.0%, currently priced at $58.9.
<h3>About National Fuel Gas</h3>
National Fuel Gas Co is a diversified energy company engaged in the production, gathering, transportation, distribution, and marketing of natural gas. The operating segments of the company are the Exploration and Production segment, the Pipeline and Storage segment, the Gathering segment, and the Utility segment. Geographically it generates revenue from the United States and majorly it generates revenue from Exploration and Production segment.
<h3>Financial Milestones: National Fuel Gas's Journey</h3>
Negative Revenue Trend: Examining National Fuel Gas's financials over 3 months reveals challenges. As of 30 June, 2024, the company experienced a decline of approximately -2.63% in revenue growth, reflecting a decrease in top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Utilities sector.
Profitability Metrics:
<ul>
<li>
Gross Margin: The company maintains a high gross margin of 40.83%, indicating strong cost management and profitability compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
Earnings per Share (EPS): National Fuel Gas's EPS lags behind the industry average, indicating concerns and potential challenges with a current EPS of -0.59.
</li>
</ul>
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, National Fuel Gas adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
Exploring Valuation Metrics Landscape:
<ul>
<li>
Price to Earnings (P/E) Ratio: The current Price to Earnings ratio of 17.07 is higher than the industry average, indicating the stock is priced at a premium level according to the market sentiment.
</li>
<li>
Price to Sales (P/S) Ratio: With a higher-than-average P/S ratio of 2.8, National Fuel Gas's stock is perceived as being overvalued in the market, particularly in relation to sales performance.
</li>
<li>
EV/EBITDA Analysis (Enterprise Value to its Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation &amp; Amortization): The company's EV/EBITDA ratio of 7.93 trails industry averages, indicating a potential disparity in market valuation that could be advantageous for investors.
</li>
</ul>
Market Capitalization Analysis: The company's market capitalization surpasses industry averages, showcasing a dominant size relative to peers and suggesting a strong market position.
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<h3>Unmasking the Significance of Insider Transactions</h3>
Insider transactions contribute to decision-making but should be supplemented by a comprehensive investment analysis.
Within the legal framework, an "insider" is defined as any officer, director, or beneficial owner holding more than ten percent of a company's equity securities as per Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This includes executives in the c-suite and major hedge funds. These insiders are mandated to disclose their transactions through a Form 4 filing, to be submitted within two business days of the transaction.
The initiation of a new purchase by a company insider serves as a strong indication that they expect the stock to rise.
However, insider sells may not always signal a bearish view and can be influenced by various factors.
<h3>Cracking Transaction Codes</h3>
Surveying the realm of stock transactions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/investing-tools">investors</a> often give prominence to those unfolding in the open market, systematically detailed in Table I of the Form 4 filing. A P in Box 3 indicates a purchase, while S signifies a sale. Transaction code C denotes the conversion of an option, and transaction code A denotes a grant, award, or other acquisition of securities from the company.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/sec/insider-trades/search/index?company_cik=0000070145">Check Out The Full List Of National Fuel Gas's Insider Trades.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Insider Trades

Trading Ideas

Insider Unloading: RONALD KRAEMER Sells $448K Worth Of National Fuel Gas Shares

National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nfg#NYSE">NFG</a>) reported third-quarter fiscal 2024 adjusted operating earnings of 99 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92 cents by 7.6%. However, the bottom line decreased 2% from the year-ago quarter&#39;s reported figure of $1.01.
GAAP earnings for the quarter were 59 cents per share, down 41% from the year-ago level of $1.00.
<h3>Total Revenues</h3>
NFG reported sales of $417.4 million, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $528 million by 20.9%. The top line also declined 2.6% from the prior-year recorded figure of $428.7 million.
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>National Fuel Gas Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise</h3>
<h3><img alt="National Fuel Gas Company Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/90/1722499356.png" style="height:282px; width:615px" title="" /></h3>
National Fuel Gas Company price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | National Fuel Gas Company Quote
</div>
<h3>Segmental Revenues</h3>
Utility: Revenues totaled $124.8 million, down 13.6% from $144.5 million in the year-ago quarter.
Exploration and Production and Other Revenues: Revenues totaled $220.9 million, up 2% from $216.6 million in the year-ago quarter.
Pipeline and Storage and Gathering: Revenues amounted to $71.7 million, implying a 6.1% increase from $67.6 million recorded in the year-ago quarter.
<h3>Highlights of the Release</h3>
Total operating expenses increased 70.7% to $468.9 million year over year. This was primarily due to higher operation and maintenance expenses and higher depreciation and amortization.
Operating loss was $51.4 million against an income of $154.1 million in the year-ago quarter.
Interest expenses totaled $32.9 million, up 25.1% from the year-ago figure of $26.3 million.
The Exploration &amp; Production segment produced 96.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas, up 2% year over year despite approximately 5.6 Bcf of price-related curtailments in the quarter.
<h3>Financial Highlights</h3>
As of Jun 30, 2024, National Fuel Gas had cash and temporary cash investments of $81.4 million compared with $55.4 million as of Sep 30, 2023.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2024 totaled $0.87 billion compared with $1.06 billion in the year-ago period.
Capital expenditures amounted to $684.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2024 compared with $727.7 million in the year-ago period.
<h3>Guidance</h3>
NFG narrowed its fiscal 2024 earnings projection to the range of $5.00-$5.10 per share from the previously anticipated $4.75-$5.05. The company expects its fiscal 2025 earnings to be in the range of $5.75-$6.25 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $6.05 per share.
The company expects its capital expenditure for fiscal 2024 and 2025 to be in the range of $890-970 million and $885-970 million, respectively.
It lowered its production volume expectation to the band of 390-400 Bcf from the previously anticipated 390-405 Bcf, and the same for 2025 is estimated to be in the range of 400-420 Bcf.
<h3>Zacks Rank</h3>
National Fuel Gas currently carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
<h3>Upcoming Releases</h3>
ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ogs#NYSE">OGS</a>) is slated to report second-quarter 2024 results on Aug 5, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings is pegged at 49 cents per share.
OGS&#39; long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 5%. It delivered an average earnings surprise of 0.9% in the past four quarters.
Southwest Gas (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/swx#NYSE">SWX</a>) is slated to report second-quarter 2024 results on Aug 6, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 43 cents per share.
SWX&#39;s long-term earnings growth rate is 6%. It delivered an average earnings surprise of 104.4% in the past four quarters.
Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ato#NYSE">ATO</a>) is slated to report third-quarter fiscal 2024 results on Aug 7, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.05 per share.
ATO&#39;s long-term earnings growth rate is 7%. It delivered an average earnings surprise of 3.3% in the past four quarters.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2313908/national-fuel-gas-nfg-q3-earnings-beat-sales-decline-y-y?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|earnings_article-2313908">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings Beats

Markets

National Fuel Gas Q3 Earnings Beat, Sales Decline Y/Y

INITIATION OF FISCAL 2025 PRELIMINARY GUIDANCE
In the non-regulated Exploration and Production and Gathering segments, the ongoing transition to the highly prolific EDA and lower activity compared to fiscal 2024 is anticipated to drive modest long-term production growth (0-5% annually) and reduce capital expenditures, furthering the trend of enhancing capital efficiency. Combining this with the outlook for higher natural gas prices, these segments are positioned to generate increasing earnings and free cash flow in fiscal 2025. In addition, recent and ongoing ratemaking activity, along with continued investments in system modernization, is expected to drive meaningful growth in rate base and earnings at the Company's rate-regulated segments.
As a result of these factors, the Company is initiating preliminary earnings guidance for fiscal 2025 with a range of $5.75 to $6.25 per share, or $6.00 per share at the midpoint, an increase of 19% from the midpoint of the revised fiscal 2024 guidance range.
Seneca's fiscal 2025 net production is expected to increase to a range of 400 to 420 Bcf, an increase of 4% versus fiscal 2024 at the midpoint of the guidance range. In addition, the Company is assuming NYMEX natural gas prices of $3.25 per MMBtu for the year, which will drive expected natural gas price realizations after hedging to increase by approximately $0.20 per Mcf from estimated fiscal 2024 realizations.
Overall, Seneca has firm sales contracts in place for approximately 88% of its expected fiscal 2025 natural gas production, significantly limiting its exposure to in-basin markets. Approximately 60% of expected production is supported by financial hedges or fixed price contracts, balancing downside protection with upside opportunity. To the extent that NYMEX increases $0.25 per MMBtu for the year, we would expect earnings per share to increase by approximately $0.35 per share, whereas a decrease to prices of $0.25 per MMBtu would reduce projected earnings per share by $0.30.
In the Company's regulated segments, the impact of the recently settled Supply Corporation rate case is expected to drive continued revenue growth in the Pipeline and Storage segment, with revenues projected to be in a range of $415 million to $435 million, which at the midpoint represents a 4% increase from the fiscal 2024 guidance range. In addition, in the Utility segment, the Company is proceeding with the rate case filed in late 2023 in its New York jurisdiction. The impact of the expected base rate increase is expected to further contribute to growing margin and net income in this segment.
The Company's consolidated capital expenditures in fiscal 2025 are expected to be in a range of $885 million to $970 million, which is largely in line with fiscal 2024 guidance.
Capital expenditures in the Company's rate-regulated Pipeline and Storage and Utility segments, collectively, are expected to be in the range of $295 million to $335 million for fiscal 2025, an increase of 8% from fiscal 2024 at the midpoint. Most of this spending will be focused on modernization programs that further enhance the safety, reliability, and resiliency of the Company's critical infrastructure, and contribute to the ongoing reduction in the Company's emissions profile. Investments in these businesses, combined with ongoing ratemaking activity to timely recovery on these investments, provide for the ability to generate stable, predictable, value-accretive returns, and are an efficient means of deploying cash flow generated across the Company to the long-term benefit of shareholders.
The Company projects fiscal 2025 capital expenditures in its Exploration and Production and Gathering segments, collectively, to be in the range of $590 million to $635 million, a decrease of $25 million, or 4%, from fiscal 2024 at the midpoint. This capital program assumes a pace of development driven by operating a single, dedicated frac fleet throughout the year. Further, Seneca plans to operate one to two horizontal rigs and intermittently operate a top hole rig. In addition, the Gathering segment will continue its multi-year build out of key centralized infrastructure in the Tioga County region, which supports Seneca's EDA development activity.

National Fuel Gas Shares Preliminary FY25 EPS Guidance Of $5.75-$6.25 Vs $6.29 Est.

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.99 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.96 by 3.13 percent. This is a 1.98 percent decrease over earnings of $1.01 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $417.44 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $536.36 million by 22.17 percent. This is a 2.63 percent decrease over sales of $428.70 million the same period last year.

National Fuel Gas Q3 Adj $0.99 Beats $0.96 Estimate, Sales $417.44M Miss $536.36M Estimate

Natural gas distribution companies offer services to transport natural gas from the region of production to millions of consumers across the United States. The utilities under the Zacks Utility Gas Distribution industry control miles of underground pipeline network to provide natural gas services to customers. The rising demand for clean, burning natural gas will create more opportunities for natural gas distribution companies.
Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ato#NYSE">ATO</a>), with its widespread transmission and distribution lines, interstate pipelines, and significant investments in infrastructure development projects, is poised to benefit as natural gas production volumes are expected to increase in 2024-2025. Steady investments and expanding infrastructure in crucial production regions should drive the performance of&nbsp;National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nfg#NYSE">NFG</a>) and New Jersey Resources Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/njr#NYSE">NJR</a>).
About The Industry
The shale revolution has substantially increased natural gas production. Its clean-burning nature has steadily boosted the demand for natural gas from all customer groups. Natural gas distribution pipelines are vital in delivering natural gas from intrastate and interstate transmission pipelines to consumers through small-diameter pipelines. United States has 3,353 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and a natural gas pipeline network of 2.6 million miles is utilized to distribute gas to customers. Major concerns for the industry are aging infrastructure and rising investment costs required to upgrade and maintain the vast network of pipelines due to the hike in interest rates. Competition from other clean energy sources can lower the demand for natural gas and, consequently, for pipelines.
Factors Shaping the Future of the Gas Distribution Industry
Production &amp; Export Volumes of Gas to Increase: The short-term energy outlook released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates that domestic dry natural gas production will remain similar to the 2023 levels in 2024 and increase 1.6% year over year to 105.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2025. EIA also forecasts gas consumption to increase 0.3% year over year to 89.4 Bcf/d in 2024. Export volumes are expected to increase in 2024 and 2025, providing relief to natural gas transporters. EIA expects U.S. liquefied natural gas&nbsp;export volumes to increase 2% year over year to 12.2 Bcf/d in 2024 and exports to increase 18% to 14.3 Bcf/d in 2025. This indicates the need for more pipelines to send LNG to export terminals.
Fresh Investments Create Opportunities: The clean-burning nature and wide availability of natural gas across the United States are driving demand. At present, 187 million Americans use natural gas. The distribution network will continue to transport natural gas to all parts of the United States. With five new LNG export terminals being developed in the United States, there should be increased demand for natural gas pipeline services to transfer the gas from production areas to these terminals. Per EIA, once completed, the five new LNG projects will increase the combined export capacity by 9.7 Bcf/d by 2025. Per the American Gas Association report, one residential customer signs up for natural gas service every minute and 80 businesses add natural gas service each day. As production and demand for natural gas increase, more pipelines will be required to safely transfer the commodity to end-users. Per the report, natural gas utilities are investing $33 billion each year to increase the reliability of natural gas distribution and transmission systems, indicating the long-term growth potential of this space.
Likely Drop in Interest Rate to Act as a Tailwind: In order to maintain, upgrade and expand operations, utilities approach capital markets for loans. Utilities have been enjoying near-zero interest rates for the past few years. However, multiple rate hikes by the Federal Reserve took the benchmark rate to 5.25-5.50%, which impacted utility operators. However, in its last few meetings, the Fed did not increase the benchmark rate. In the recently concluded Fed meeting, interest rates were unchanged. Fed officials indicated that they would probably reduce the interest rates in September if the positive development continues. The likely drop in interest rates would be a positive for utility operators planning large investments in infrastructure upgrades and the addition of renewable sources of energy to produce electricity.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2308008/3-gas-distribution-stocks-to-buy-from-a-flourishing-industry?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-industry_outlook-2308008">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Federal Reserve

3 Gas Distribution Stocks to Buy From a Flourishing Industry

As of July 23, 2024, two stocks in the utilities sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.
The RSI is a momentum indicator, which compares a stock&#8217;s strength on days when prices go up to its strength on days when prices go down. When compared to a stock&#8217;s price action, it can give traders a better sense of how a stock may perform in the short term. An asset is typically considered overbought when the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/rsi">RSI is above 70</a>, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>. 
Here's the latest list of major overbought players in this sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">National Fuel Gas Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On July 12, Scotiabank analyst Cameron Bean maintained National Fuel Gas with a Sector Outperform rating and raised the price target from $75 to $80. The company's stock gained around 4% over the past month and has a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/NFG">52-week high of $58.60</a>.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 70.48&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li>NFG Price Action: Shares of National Fuel Gas gained 1.4% to close at $58.29 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cadiz Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CDZI#NASDAQ">CDZI</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>On July 18, Cadiz said its operating subsidiary ATEC Water Systems, LLC secured three additional sales contracts for iron and manganese filtration systems totaling an expected $1.5 million in sales revenue. The company's stock gained around 20% over the past month and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/CDZI">has a 52-week high</a> of $4.30.</li>
<li>RSI Value: 71.99</li>
<li>CDZI Price Action: Shares of Cadiz rose 0.3% to close at $3.68 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Read This: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39881526/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-say-hold-these-3-utilities-stocks-with-over-5-dividend-yields">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Say Hold These 3 Utilities Stocks With Over 5% Dividend Yields</a></li>
</ul>

Short Ideas

Pre-Market Outlook

CDZI

Top 2 Utilities Stocks That Could Sink Your Portfolio This month

Launched on 05/08/2007, the First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF (ARCA:FXU) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market.
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.
Additionally, sector ETFs offer convenient ways to gain low risk and diversified exposure to a broad group of companies in particular sectors. Utilities - Broad is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 3, placing it in top 19%.
Index Details
The fund is sponsored by First Trust Advisors. It has amassed assets over $256.06 million, making it one of the average sized ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Utilities - Broad segment of the equity market. FXU seeks to match the performance of the StrataQuant Utilities Index before fees and expenses.
The StrataQuant Utilities Index is a modified equal-dollar weighted index designed by the AMEX to objectively identify and select stocks from the Russell 1000 Index that may generate positive alpha relative to traditional passive style indices through the use of the AlphaDEX screening methodology.
Costs
Investors should also pay attention to an ETF&#39;s expense ratio. Lower cost products will produce better results than those with a higher cost, assuming all other metrics remain the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.64%, making it one of the most expensive products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.65%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure that minimizes single stock risk, investors should also look at the actual holdings inside the fund. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Utilities sector--about 96.50% of the portfolio.
Looking at individual holdings, Vistra Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vst#NYSE">VST</a>) accounts for about 4.91% of total assets, followed by National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nfg#NYSE">NFG</a>) and Oge Energy Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/oge#NYSE">OGE</a>).
The top 10 holdings account for about 40.31% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF return is roughly 9.28% so far this year and is up about 7.99% in the last one year (as of 07/15/2024). In that past 52-week period, it has traded between $27.35 and $35.11.
The ETF has a beta of 0.67 and standard deviation of 17.52% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 41 holdings, it has more concentrated exposure than peers.
Alternatives
First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF sports a Zacks ETF Rank of 4 (Sell), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. FXU, then, is not the best option for investors seeking exposure to the Utilities/Infrastructure ETFs segment of the market. However, there are better ETFs in the space to consider.
Vanguard Utilities ETF (ARCA:VPU) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Utilities 25/50 Index and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (ARCA:XLU) tracks Utilities Select Sector Index. Vanguard Utilities ETF has $5.74 billion in assets, Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF has $14.63 billion. VPU has an expense ratio of 0.10% and XLU charges 0.09%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2301337/should-you-invest-in-the-first-trust-utilities-alphadex-etf-fxu?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-sector_etf-2301337">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

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Should You Invest in the First Trust Utilities AlphaDEX ETF?

Scotiabank analyst Cameron Bean maintains National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $75 to $80.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on National Fuel Gas, Raises Price Target to $80

National Fuel Gas Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nfg#NYSE">NFG</a>) announced that its board of directors has approved a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend rate. The company has paid dividends for 122 consecutive years, and this marks its annual dividend hike for 54 consecutive years. The new dividend rate will be 51.5 cents per share compared with the previous quarter&#39;s 49.5 cents, payable on Jul 15, 2024, to stockholders of record as of Jun 28. 
This increase resulted in an annualized dividend of $2.06 per share compared with the previous level of $1.98. National Fuel Gas&#39; current dividend yield is 3.6%, higher than the Zacks S&amp;P 500 composite&#39;s average of 1.36%.
<h3>Can NFG Sustain Dividend Hikes?</h3>
The company&#39;s systematic capital spending to strengthen its natural gas and oil operations is positively impacting its total production. It has been consistently increasing its total production since fiscal 2015. Also, National Fuel Gas&#39; acquisition of Royal Dutch Shell&#39;s upstream and midstream assets in Pennsylvania for $500 million boosted its earnings and production. 
Since 2010, National Fuel Gas Company has invested $2.7 billion in midstream operations to expand and modernize its pipeline infrastructure to gain access to Appalachian production. The company has more than $500 million in investment planned over the next five years for the modernization of pipeline transportation and distribution systems. 
At present, its midstream operation has 4.5 million dekatherms of daily interstate pipeline capacity under contract. On completion, these projects are expected to further boost the pipeline capacity and annual revenues of the company. 
NFG has the potential to expand and improve even further, which suggests that management will have sufficient funds to continue with its shareholder-friendly activities in the future.
<h3>Legacy of Dividend Payment</h3>
Companies involved in utility services generally have stable operations and earnings. Consistent performance, regulated returns and the ability to generate cash flows allow utilities to reward shareholders with regular dividends. 
In the past few months, Chesapeake Utilities Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cpk#NYSE">CPK</a>), The Southern Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/so#NYSE">SO</a>) and FirstEnergy (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fe#NYSE">FE</a>) have raised their quarterly dividend rate by 8.5%, 2.9% and 3.6%, respectively. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Chesapeake Utilities&#39; 2024 earnings is pegged at $5.41 per share, implying a year-over-year increase of 1.9%. CPK&#39;s current dividend yield is 2.21%. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Southern Company&#39;s 2024 earnings is pegged at $3.99 per share, implying a year-over-year increase of 9.3%. SO&#39;s current dividend yield is 3.66%. 
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FirstEnergy&#39;s 2024 earnings is pegged at $2.68 per share, implying a year-over-year increase of 4.7%. FE&#39;s current dividend yield is 4.4%.
<h3>Price Performance</h3>
In the past three months, National Fuel Gas&#39; shares have risen 7% compared with the industry&#39;s growth of 5%.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/22/68845.jpg?v=1120721541" /> 
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h3>Zacks Rank</h3>
National Fuel Gas currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2288296/national-fuel-gas-nfg-board-approves-4-dividend-hike?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_corporate_actions-2288296">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

National Fuel Gas' Board Approves 4% Dividend Hike

Dividends

National Fuel Gas Company Approves 4% Dividend Increase; Quarterly Rate Raised To $0.515 Cents Per Share vs $0.495 Prior, Annual Rate Now $2.06 Per Share vs $1.980 Prior

Scotiabank analyst Cameron Bean maintains National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $72 to $75.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on National Fuel Gas, Raises Price Target to $75

National Fuel Sees Pipeline, Storage Revenue $400M-$420M

National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.79 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.51 by 18.54 percent. This is a 16.23 percent increase over earnings of $1.54 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $629.939 million which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $767.331 million by 17.91 percent. This is a 12.17 percent decrease over sales of $717.261 million the same period last year.

National Fuel Gas Q2 2024 Adj EPS $1.79 Beats $1.51 Estimate, Sales $629.939M Miss $767.331M Estimate

Scotiabank analyst Cameron Bean maintains National Fuel Gas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFG#NYSE">NFG</a>) with a Sector Outperform and raises the price target from $67 to $72.

Scotiabank Maintains Sector Outperform on National Fuel Gas, Raises Price Target to $72

National Fuel Gas Non-GAAP EPS of $0.77 misses by $0.05, revenue of $372.07M

National Fuel Gas Company ( ($NFG) ) has issued an update. National Fuel Gas Company updated its Investor Presentation, highlighting the use of non...

National Fuel Gas Highlights Financial Insights in Presentation

David P. Bauer, President and CEO, stated: "National Fuel (NFG) had a good quarter driven largely by the constructive outcomes in our recent ratema...

National Fuel reports Q4 adjusted EPS 77c, consensus 84c

In a report released today, Cameron Bean from Scotiabank maintained a Buy rating on National Fuel Gas Company (NFG – Research Report), with a price...

National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) Receives a Buy from Scotiabank

National Fuel Gas Company (NFG) Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

National Fuel Gas ( ($NFG) ) has released its Q4 earnings. Here is a breakdown of the information National Fuel Gas presented to its investors. Nat...

National Fuel Gas Reports Fiscal 2024 Earnings

Tracking Mario Gabelli's Gabelli Funds 13F Portfolio - Q3 2024 Update

Argus raised the firm's price target on National Fuel (NFG) to $69 from $67 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares following the fiscal Q4 report. Th...

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