Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) Reaches New 1-Year High – What’s Next?

Shares of Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $21.25 and last traded at $20.84, with a volume of 29889 shares. The stock had previously closed at $21.02.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NVGS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Zacks Research cut Navigator from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 5th. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $19.00 price target on shares of Navigator in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Navigator from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Sunday, February 8th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Navigator in a report on Monday, December 29th. Finally, Pareto Securities started coverage on shares of Navigator in a research note on Tuesday, December 9th. They issued a “buy” rating on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $21.50.

Navigator Trading Down 0.7%

The firm has a market cap of $1.46 billion, a PE ratio of 13.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.16 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $18.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $17.25. The company has a current ratio of 1.18, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. raised its holdings in Navigator by 1,124.1% in the 4th quarter. TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. now owns 1,677 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,540 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System purchased a new position in Navigator in the second quarter valued at $29,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its position in Navigator by 2,794.4% in the 3rd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,055 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,984 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Navigator in the 3rd quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc acquired a new position in shares of Navigator during the second quarter worth about $42,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 18.95% of the company’s stock.

About Navigator

Navigator Holdings Ltd. is a global shipping company specializing in the seaborne transportation of liquefied gases. The company’s fleet is purpose-built to carry a range of petrochemical gases, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethylene, propylene and ammonia. Navigator’s vessels are designed to meet the stringent safety and environmental standards required for handling pressurized and refrigerated gases, offering flexible capacity to customers across the energy and chemical sectors.

Navigator operates one of the largest and most modern fleets of gas carriers in the industry, with vessels ranging from fully pressurized gas carriers to specialized very large ethane carriers (VLECs).