Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) Downgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com cut shares of Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Tuesday morning.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Clarkson Capital raised shares of Navigator from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $20.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a $20.00 price objective on shares of Navigator in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Navigator in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $22.00 target price for the company. Finally, DNB Markets assumed coverage on Navigator in a report on Thursday, September 12th. They set a buy rating and a $22.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $21.00.

Navigator Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NVGS opened at $15.97 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $16.14 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.11. Navigator has a 52-week low of $13.68 and a 52-week high of $18.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.65 and a beta of 1.50.

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 14th. The shipping company reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.02. Navigator had a return on equity of 7.35% and a net margin of 14.76%. The business had revenue of $129.55 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $117.92 million. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Navigator will post 1.38 earnings per share for the current year.

Navigator Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 3rd will be given a $0.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 3rd. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.25%. Navigator’s dividend payout ratio is presently 17.09%.

Institutional Trading of Navigator

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Navigator during the second quarter valued at approximately $23,571,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Navigator by 145.7% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,086,016 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $16,641,000 after purchasing an additional 644,011 shares in the last quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Navigator by 89.3% during the 1st quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 522,535 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $8,021,000 after purchasing an additional 246,505 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP raised its stake in shares of Navigator by 361.3% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 207,039 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $3,615,000 after buying an additional 162,160 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Navigator by 15.8% in the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 787,700 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $13,753,000 after buying an additional 107,300 shares during the period. 18.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Navigator

Navigator Holdings Ltd. engages in owning and operating a fleet of liquefied gas carriers worldwide. It provides international and regional seaborne transportation services of petrochemical gases, liquefied petroleum gases, and ammonia for energy companies, industrial users, and commodity traders. The company also offers ship shore infrastructure and consultancy services.