This week, three Gas Utilities stocks are improving their overall ratings on Portfolio Grader. Each of these stocks is rated an “A” (“strong buy”) or “B” overall (“buy”).

New Jersey Resources‘s (NYSE:NJR) grade is moving up to a B (“buy”) this week from last week’s C (“hold”). New Jersey Resources provides retail and wholesale energy services to customers in New Jersey and in states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. In Portfolio Grader’s specific subcategory of Margin Growth, NJR also gets an A. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of NJR stock.

Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN) boosts its rating from a C to a B this week. Northwest Natural Gas distributes natural gas to customers in western Oregon, as well as portions of Washington. In the past week, the volume of trades plummeted to half the previous rate.

For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of NWN stock.

The rating of Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE:FGP) improves this week, rising from C to a B. Ferrellgas Partners sells, distributes, markets, and trades propane and other natural gas liquids. The stock price has risen 5.1% over the past month, better than the 2.3% increase the S&P 500 has seen over the same period of time. For more information, get Portfolio Grader’s complete analysis of FGP stock.

Louis Navellier’s proprietary Portfolio Grader stock ranking system assesses roughly 5,000 companies every week based on a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. Stocks are given a letter grade based on their results — with A being “strong buy,” and F being “strong sell.” Explore the tool here.