Northwest Natural Holding (NYSE:NWN) Holdings Cut by Asset Management One Co. Ltd.

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. reduced its stake in shares of Northwest Natural Holding (NYSE:NWN) by 12.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 24,119 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 3,286 shares during the period. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. owned 0.07% of Northwest Natural worth $941,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in Northwest Natural by 372.0% during the second quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 445,329 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $23,647,000 after acquiring an additional 350,988 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Northwest Natural in the 4th quarter valued at $15,541,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Northwest Natural by 7.7% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,878,324 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $200,586,000 after purchasing an additional 277,421 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in Northwest Natural by 16.9% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,562,357 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $80,805,000 after buying an additional 226,118 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Northwest Natural by 23.7% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 910,894 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $34,760,000 after acquiring an additional 174,587 shares in the last quarter. 75.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Northwest Natural Price Performance

Shares of NWN stock opened at $36.13 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.90 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. Northwest Natural Holding has a 12 month low of $34.95 and a 12 month high of $48.37. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $36.67 and a two-hundred day moving average of $37.64.

Northwest Natural (NYSE:NWN) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 23rd. The utilities provider reported $1.21 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.31 by ($0.10). The firm had revenue of $355.71 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $368.78 million. Northwest Natural had a return on equity of 7.52% and a net margin of 7.84%. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.36 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Northwest Natural Holding will post 2.29 EPS for the current year.

Northwest Natural Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 30th will be given a $0.488 dividend. This represents a $1.95 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.40%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 29th. Northwest Natural’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 75.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on shares of Northwest Natural in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. They set a “neutral” rating and a $39.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $45.20.

About Northwest Natural

Northwest Natural Holding Company, through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the United States. The company operates a mist gas storage facility contracted to other utilities, third-party marketers, and electric generators; offers natural gas asset management services; and operates an appliance retail center.