Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) Sets New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NVGS) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $24.46 and last traded at $24.4660, with a volume of 484832 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $23.48.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NVGS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Navigator from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Navigator from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, August 8th. Finally, Zacks Research lowered shares of Navigator from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, August 7th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Navigator presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $23.33.

Navigator Trading Up 3.5%

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.49 billion, a PE ratio of 11.20, a PEG ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 0.47. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $21.59 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $21.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a current ratio of 1.71.

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The shipping company reported $0.85 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.53 by $0.32. The firm had revenue of $167.94 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $139.46 million. Navigator had a net margin of 22.80% and a return on equity of 10.45%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Navigator Holdings Ltd. will post 1.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Navigator Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 19th were paid a dividend of $0.07 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, August 19th. This represents a $0.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.2%. Navigator’s dividend payout ratio is presently 12.90%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Navigator

In other Navigator news, insider Oeyvind Lindeman sold 7,500 shares of Navigator stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.68, for a total value of $162,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 7,246 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $157,093.28. This trade represents a 50.86% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Peter George Charles An Stokes sold 5,000 shares of Navigator stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.28, for a total value of $101,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 6,910 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $140,134.80. This trade represents a 41.98% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Navigator

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hodges Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Navigator by 31.1% in the fourth quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc. now owns 553,323 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $9,584,000 after buying an additional 131,351 shares in the last quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. boosted its stake in shares of Navigator by 27.8% in the fourth quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 1,430,009 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $24,768,000 after buying an additional 311,259 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in Navigator by 109.1% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 402,079 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $7,772,000 after buying an additional 209,760 shares in the last quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Navigator by 62.7% in the first quarter. Encompass Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,034,216 shares of the shipping company’s stock valued at $19,991,000 after buying an additional 398,615 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LSV Asset Management purchased a new stake in shares of Navigator during the fourth quarter worth about $3,108,000. 18.95% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Navigator

Navigator Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NVGS), doing business as Navigator Gas, is a maritime transportation company that owns and operates a fleet of gas carriers. The company specializes in the seaborne transportation of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petrochemical gases such as ethylene, and ammonia.

Navigator Gas serves energy, petrochemical and industrial-gas customers through international shipping routes. Its vessels are designed to transport liquefied gases in various cargo sizes and temperature conditions, supporting the movement of products between production centers, export terminals and regional markets worldwide.

In addition to its shipping operations, the company has interests in marine infrastructure connected with the handling and export of liquefied gases.