Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) Stock Rating Lowered by StockNews.com

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Saturday.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on NVGS. DNB Markets began coverage on shares of Navigator in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $22.00 price target on the stock. Citigroup assumed coverage on Navigator in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. They issued a “buy” rating and a $22.00 price target on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $20.00 price objective on shares of Navigator in a research note on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Clarkson Capital upgraded Navigator from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $20.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $21.00.

Navigator Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NVGS stock opened at $16.37 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $16.07 and its 200 day moving average price is $16.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Navigator has a 1-year low of $13.68 and a 1-year high of $18.18. The company has a market cap of $1.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.99 and a beta of 1.50.

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 14th. The shipping company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $129.55 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $117.92 million. Navigator had a net margin of 14.76% and a return on equity of 7.35%. On average, research analysts expect that Navigator will post 1.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Navigator

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Estabrook Capital Management lifted its position in shares of Navigator by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Estabrook Capital Management now owns 131,448 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $1,913,000 after buying an additional 6,700 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its position in Navigator by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 252,187 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $3,669,000 after acquiring an additional 4,208 shares during the last quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Navigator by 89.3% in the first quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 522,535 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $8,021,000 after acquiring an additional 246,505 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of Navigator by 13.5% during the first quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 29,884 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $459,000 after purchasing an additional 3,546 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. increased its position in shares of Navigator by 17.9% during the first quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 673,500 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $10,338,000 after purchasing an additional 102,224 shares in the last quarter. 18.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Navigator Company Profile

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.