Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:NGS) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:NGS) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 252,463 shares, a growth of 25.4% from the January 29th total of 201,267 shares. Approximately 2.2% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 126,604 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.0 days. Based on an average daily volume of 126,604 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.0 days. Approximately 2.2% of the company’s stock are sold short.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Stephen Charles Taylor sold 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.16, for a total transaction of $331,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director owned 285,432 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,464,925.12. This represents a 3.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jean K. Holley acquired 2,190 shares of Natural Gas Services Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 8th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $32.04 per share, with a total value of $70,167.60. Following the completion of the purchase, the director directly owned 14,390 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $461,055.60. The trade was a 17.95% increase in their position. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 5.08% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natural Gas Services Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Weber Capital Management LLC ADV acquired a new position in shares of Natural Gas Services Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $16,777,000. Cannell Capital LLC raised its position in Natural Gas Services Group by 279.3% in the 2nd quarter. Cannell Capital LLC now owns 331,616 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $8,559,000 after purchasing an additional 244,193 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC acquired a new position in Natural Gas Services Group during the 4th quarter worth $3,591,000. Millennium Management LLC lifted its holdings in Natural Gas Services Group by 133.7% during the 3rd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 169,023 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock worth $4,731,000 after buying an additional 96,690 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Natural Gas Services Group by 151.8% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 153,361 shares of the oil and gas company’s stock valued at $3,958,000 after buying an additional 92,444 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.62% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages recently commented on NGS. Raymond James Financial lowered Natural Gas Services Group from a “strong-buy” rating to an “outperform” rating and upped their target price for the company from $34.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Natural Gas Services Group in a report on Monday, December 29th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Natural Gas Services Group from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Natural Gas Services Group from $33.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $40.50.

Natural Gas Services Group Price Performance

NGS stock traded up $0.46 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $38.91. 73,866 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 90,666. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $35.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.04. Natural Gas Services Group has a 1-year low of $16.73 and a 1-year high of $39.67. The company has a market cap of $489.10 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.29 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77.

Natural Gas Services Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 4th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $0.11 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 18th. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.1%. Natural Gas Services Group’s dividend payout ratio is 29.73%.

Natural Gas Services Group Company Profile

Natural Gas Services Group, Inc (NYSE: NGS) is an energy infrastructure company specializing in natural gas distribution and compression services across the United States. The company operates two primary lines of business: the Distribution segment provides natural gas delivery to residential, commercial and industrial customers, while the Compression Services segment rents, sells and services a diversified fleet of compression equipment for midstream and industrial applications.

In its Distribution segment, Natural Gas Services Group engineers, constructs and maintains local pipeline networks, meters and related apparatus to ensure safe and reliable natural gas supply to municipal utilities and private customers.