Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) Now Covered by Analysts at Alliance Global Partners

Alliance Global Partners initiated coverage on shares of Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) in a research report released on Monday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $24.00 target price on the shipping company’s stock.

Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup began coverage on Navigator in a research note on Wednesday, July 31st. They set a “buy” rating and a $22.00 price objective on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of Navigator from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, October 14th. DNB Markets started coverage on shares of Navigator in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $22.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating and set a $20.00 target price on shares of Navigator in a research report on Thursday, August 15th. Finally, Clarkson Capital raised Navigator from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $20.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, August 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Navigator has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $21.60.

Navigator Trading Up 1.8 %

NYSE:NVGS opened at $15.41 on Monday. Navigator has a one year low of $13.72 and a one year high of $18.18. The company has a market cap of $1.13 billion, a PE ratio of 13.64 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $16.09 and a 200-day moving average of $16.30.

Navigator (NYSE:NVGS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 14th. The shipping company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.32 by $0.02. Navigator had a return on equity of 7.35% and a net margin of 14.76%. The firm had revenue of $129.55 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $117.92 million. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Navigator will post 1.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Navigator Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 3rd were given a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.30%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 3rd. Navigator’s dividend payout ratio is currently 17.70%.

Institutional Trading of Navigator

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of Navigator during the 2nd quarter worth $38,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in Navigator during the second quarter valued at about $48,000. Perkins Coie Trust Co bought a new position in Navigator during the second quarter worth about $105,000. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in shares of Navigator by 9.1% in the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 8,221 shares of the shipping company’s stock worth $132,000 after purchasing an additional 684 shares in the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Navigator in the second quarter valued at approximately $279,000. 18.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.