National Fuel Gas Company Acquires $2.5 Billion Utility Business, Expanding Customer Base to 1.1 Million
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Source: CNBC
- Acquisition Strategy: National Fuel Gas Company is acquiring CenterPoint Energy's Ohio natural gas utility business for $2.5 billion, expected to expand its customer base to approximately 1.1 million, significantly enhancing its competitive position in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio markets.
- Financial Performance: For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, adjusted earnings per share reached $1.22, a 58% increase year-over-year, with total revenue of $2.28 billion, up 17%, demonstrating the company's strong profitability and growth potential.
- Dividend Stability: National Fuel has increased its dividend for 55 consecutive years, with a current quarterly dividend of 53.5 cents per share yielding approximately 2.6% annually, indicating a sustainable dividend policy supported by stable cash flows and future growth potential.
- Pipeline Expansion Projects: The company is advancing several pipeline expansion projects, including the Shippingport Lateral, which is expected to generate approximately $15 million in annual revenue, further solidifying its position in emerging markets.
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Analyst Views on NFG
Wall Street analysts forecast NFG stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for NFG is 101.00 USD with a low forecast of 96.00 USD and a high forecast of 106.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
4 Analyst Rating
0 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 83.090
Low
96.00
Averages
101.00
High
106.00
Current: 83.090
Low
96.00
Averages
101.00
High
106.00
About NFG
National Fuel Gas Company is a diversified, integrated energy company with a complementary mix of natural gas assets. It is engaged in the production, gathering, transportation, storage and distribution of natural gas. Its segments include Exploration and Production, Pipeline and Storage, Gathering, and Utility. The Exploration and Production segment is engaged in the exploration for, and the development and production of, primarily natural gas in the Appalachian region of the United States. The Pipeline and Storage segment provides interstate natural gas transportation services for affiliated and nonaffiliated companies through integrated natural gas pipeline systems in Pennsylvania and New York. The Gathering segment builds, owns, and operates gathering facilities in the Appalachian region. The Utility segment provides natural gas utility services to approximately 755,000 customers through a local distribution system located in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
National Fuel Gas Company Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights
- Stable Earnings Performance: National Fuel Gas Company reported adjusted EPS of $2.06 for Q1, aligning with expectations and demonstrating operational stability during challenging winter conditions.
- Significant EBITDA Growth: The integrated upstream and gathering segment saw a 29% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA, driven by a three-year rate settlement in New York and pipeline modernization efforts in Pennsylvania, strengthening the company's financial foundation.
- Production and Capital Efficiency Gains: The company achieved net production of 109 Bcf in the first quarter, a 12% increase year-over-year, while capital efficiency improved by 30% since 2023, laying a solid groundwork for future growth.
- Acquisition Progress on Track: National Fuel completed a $350 million private placement of common stock to meet equity needs for the CenterPoint Ohio acquisition, which is expected to further drive market expansion and financial stability.
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