Midland, Texas, Feb. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: NGS), (“NGS” or the “Company”), a leading provider of natural gas compression equipment, technology, and services to the energy industry, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per share of common stock, or $0.44 per share of common stock on an annualized basis. This cash dividend will be paid on March 4, 2026, to all stockholders of record as of the close of busines ...

Midland, Texas, Feb. 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: NGS ), ("NGS" or the "Company"), a leading provider of natural gas compression equipment, technology, and services to the energy industry, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per share of common stock, or $0.44 per share of common stock on an annualized basis. This cash dividend will be paid on March 4, 2026, to all stockholders of record as of the close of busine ...

Core Viewpoint - Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS) has initiated a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per common share, marking a significant shift in its capital return strategy [2][3]. Financial Performance - The company reported strong financial results, which contributed to management's confidence in the long-term outlook of the business [3]. - NGS's balance sheet is described as one of the best in the industry, supporting its growth and market share expansion [4]. Dividend Strategy - The initial dividend of $0.10 per share is seen as the first step in a broader capital return strategy, with potential for future increases as the business scales [4]. - Following the initial dividend, NGS raised its quarterly cash dividend to $0.11 per share in the third quarter, reflecting confidence in cash generation and disciplined capital allocation [5]. Company Overview - NGS provides natural gas compression equipment, technology, and services to the energy industry, positioning itself for growth in a competitive market [5].

Core Viewpoint - Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. ("NGS") announces the retirement of Stephen Taylor, Chairman Emeritus, from the Board of Directors, concluding over two decades of leadership and service to the company [1][5]. Leadership Transition - Stephen Taylor served as CEO and Chairman for nearly 20 years, during which NGS experienced significant growth and developed new operational capabilities [2]. - Under Taylor's leadership, NGS expanded its national footprint and broadened its equipment portfolio, establishing a large horsepower fleet [2][3]. - NGS transformed from a small compression fabricator into a large-scale rental compression platform serving major U.S. oil and gas basins [3]. Legacy and Impact - Taylor completed a planned leadership transition in February 2024, passing the CEO role to Justin Jacobs while continuing to provide guidance as a director [4]. - His leadership was instrumental in building a durable business with strong fundamentals, and his guidance during the CEO transition was invaluable [5]. - Taylor expressed pride in NGS's achievements and confidence in the company's future success, retaining a significant equity interest in the company [5]. Board Governance - The Board of Directors is engaged in regular governance and succession planning processes and will announce any changes to Board composition as they develop [5].

Core Insights - Riverwater Partners' Micro Opportunities Strategy faced challenges in Q4 and FY2025, underperforming against benchmarks due to underweight exposure in speculative market areas and a focus on high-quality stocks [1] - The strategy anticipates that the current rally in low-quality stocks will be short-lived, shifting focus towards micro-cap companies with broader sales and growth trajectories for 2026 [1] Company Highlights - Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:NGS) was highlighted as a recent addition to the strategy, with a market capitalization of $422.818 million and a stock price of $33.64 as of January 16, 2026 [2] - NGS has shown a one-month return of 2.94% and a 52-week gain of 20.19%, indicating positive performance trends [2] - NGS operates in the Permian region, providing natural gas compression units and is largely price and commodity agnostic, focusing on volume rather than commodity economics [3] - A significant portion of NGS's revenue is secured under long-term contracts, which provides stability [3] - The company is optimizing its portfolio by increasing its focus on large horsepower compressors (greater than 1,000HP) while reducing reliance on smaller units, which currently account for about 25% of revenue [3] - NGS's access to large horsepower compressors positions it advantageously in a tight market, potentially improving utilization and margin profiles [3]

Core Viewpoint - Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:NGS) has experienced a recent downgrade in its stock rating, but analysts still see potential for growth in the company due to favorable market conditions in the compression sector driven by increased natural gas demand [2][3]. Company Summary - Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. specializes in providing high-performance compression solutions for the oil and natural gas industry [2]. - The company's share price fell by 2.18% from January 9 to January 16, 2026, ranking it among the energy stocks that lost the most during that week [1]. Analyst Insights - On January 13, Raymond James downgraded NGS from 'Strong Buy' to 'Outperform', while raising the stock's price target from $34 to $42, indicating a potential upside of nearly 25% from current levels [2]. - The compression sector is expected to have a healthy growth trajectory, supported by rising natural gas demand due to increased US LNG export capacity and growing energy consumption from data centers [3]. - Despite a slow start to the year, NGS's share price has increased by over 23% in the past 12 months [3].

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying and maintaining stock price trends for successful short-term investing, highlighting Natural Gas Services (NGS) as a strong candidate for trend investors due to its recent performance and fundamental strength [1][2][4]. Group 1: Stock Performance - NGS has experienced a significant price increase of 32.9% over the past 12 weeks, indicating strong investor interest [4]. - The stock has also shown a price increase of 9.4% over the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - Currently, NGS is trading at 98.9% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [6]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - NGS holds a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6]. - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. - The Zacks Rank system has a strong historical performance, with Rank 1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for identifying stocks like NGS that have the fundamental strength to maintain their upward trend [3]. - In addition to NGS, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, providing additional investment opportunities [8]. - The article suggests utilizing various Zacks Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles to find potential winning stocks [8].

Core Insights - Net profit is a crucial indicator of a company's financial health, reflecting its ability to convert sales into profits [1] - A low profit margin indicates higher risks, while companies like Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation (GLDD), Strattec Security Corporation (STRT), Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS), and Standard Motor Products, Inc. (SMP) demonstrate solid net profit margins [2] - A higher net profit margin compared to peers provides a competitive edge and attracts investors and skilled employees [4] Financial Metrics - Net Profit Margin is calculated as Net Profit/Sales * 100, serving as a reference for assessing operational strength and cost control [3] - A healthy net profit margin and solid EPS growth are essential for maximizing returns [7] Screening Criteria - Companies with a net margin of at least 0% indicate solid profitability [8] - Positive percentage change in EPS indicates earnings growth [8] - A Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 suggests strong performance potential [10] Selected Companies - GLDD is the largest provider of dredging services in the U.S., with a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of A; its 2026 earnings estimate has increased by $0.10 to $1.09 per share [10][11] - STRT designs and manufactures automotive locks, holding a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of A; its 2026 earnings estimate has risen by 23.3% to $5.24 per share [12][13] - NGS produces natural gas compressors, also with a Zacks Rank of 1 and a VGM Score of B; its 2026 earnings estimate has increased by 14.1% to $2.11 per share [13][14] - SMP manufactures automotive replacement parts, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 and a VGM Score of A; its 2026 earnings estimate has risen by $0.04 to $4.31 per share [15][16]

Core Insights - Investors are gravitating towards safer, low-beta stocks due to anticipated market uncertainty [1] - Companies are increasingly utilizing complex borrowing methods for funding data center projects, contributing to market nervousness [1] Stock Recommendations - Suggested low-beta stocks include J & J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF), USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC), Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS), and The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO) [2] Stock Characteristics - Beta measures the volatility of a stock relative to the market, with a beta of less than 1 indicating lower volatility [3][4] - A beta range of 0 to 0.6 is used as a screening criterion for less volatile stocks [5] Screening Criteria - Stocks must have a positive price change over the last four weeks [5] - Average 20-day trading volume should exceed 50,000 [6] - Stock price must be at least $5 [6] - Zacks Rank of 1 indicates strong buy potential [6] Company Profiles - **J & J Snack Foods**: Strong balance sheet, negligible debt, focused on capital return to shareholders, and plans to accelerate stock repurchases [7] - **USA Compression Partners**: Positioned to benefit from rising demand for cleaner fuels and LNG exports, with plans to add new equipment by year-end [8][9] - **Natural Gas Services**: Benefits from increased LNG exports, leading to higher demand for compression equipment [10] - **The Vita Coco Company**: Leading producer of coconut water, experiencing strong demand growth across regions [11]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying sustainable trends in short-term investing, highlighting Natural Gas Services (NGS) as a strong candidate for trend investors due to its recent price performance and favorable fundamentals [1][4][6]. Group 1: Price Performance - NGS has experienced a solid price increase of 15% over the past 12 weeks, indicating strong investor interest [4]. - The stock has also seen an 8.3% price increase over the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - Currently, NGS is trading at 92.2% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [6]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - NGS holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6]. - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for identifying stocks like NGS that have the fundamental strength to maintain their upward momentum [3]. - The article suggests that there are several other stocks passing through this screen, indicating potential investment opportunities for trend investors [8].