NiSource (NYSE:NI) Sets New 1-Year High – What’s Next?

Shares of NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $38.22 and last traded at $38.16, with a volume of 228715 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $37.71.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on NI shares. Evercore ISI raised their price target on NiSource from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of NiSource from $35.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of NiSource from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, November 1st. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of NiSource from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on NiSource in a research report on Monday, October 28th. They set a “buy” rating and a $39.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $37.50.

NiSource Trading Up 0.6 %

The company has a market capitalization of $17.71 billion, a PE ratio of 22.85, a P/E/G ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.46 and a quick ratio of 0.35. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $35.04 and its 200 day moving average is $31.95.

NiSource (NYSE:NI) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 30th. The utilities provider reported $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.05. NiSource had a return on equity of 8.27% and a net margin of 14.63%. The company had revenue of $1.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $986.00 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.19 earnings per share. NiSource’s quarterly revenue was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that NiSource Inc. will post 1.73 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. MCF Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of NiSource during the second quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in NiSource during the second quarter valued at $25,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in NiSource in the third quarter worth $33,000. Family Firm Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of NiSource in the second quarter worth $43,000. Finally, Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new position in shares of NiSource in the 2nd quarter worth about $47,000. 91.64% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About NiSource

NiSource Inc, an energy holding company, operates as a regulated natural gas and electric utility company in the United States. It operates in two segments, Gas Distribution Operations and Electric Operations. The company distributes natural gas to approximately 3.3 million customers through approximately 55,000 miles of distribution main pipeline and the associated individual customer service lines; and 1,000 miles of transmission main pipeline in northern Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and Maryland.