NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) Receives Average Recommendation of “Hold” from Brokerages

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) has been given an average rating of “Hold” by the seven ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $57.50.

NWE has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. StockNews.com cut shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. Barclays upgraded NorthWestern Energy Group from an “underweight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $53.00 to $56.00 in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Bank of America assumed coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Thursday, September 12th. They set a “buy” rating and a $65.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 700 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $53.57, for a total transaction of $37,499.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 10,888 shares in the company, valued at $583,270.16. The trade was a 6.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Anthony Thomas Clark sold 7,400 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.95, for a total transaction of $384,430.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 16,816 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $873,591.20. This trade represents a 30.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.94% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NorthWestern Energy Group

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NWE. Systematic Financial Management LP grew its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 11.8% in the 3rd quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 1,070,434 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,250,000 after buying an additional 113,265 shares during the period. FMR LLC boosted its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 17.0% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 759,804 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,476,000 after acquiring an additional 110,461 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 36.4% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 396,409 shares of the company’s stock worth $19,840,000 after purchasing an additional 105,845 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 204.7% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 110,571 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,327,000 after purchasing an additional 74,278 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 6.3% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,027,698 shares of the company’s stock valued at $51,467,000 after purchasing an additional 61,216 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.07% of the company’s stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group Price Performance

NWE opened at $53.00 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.29, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.48. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $53.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $53.50. NorthWestern Energy Group has a 12-month low of $46.15 and a 12-month high of $57.49.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE) last issued its earnings results on Monday, October 28th. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.70 by ($0.05). The firm had revenue of $345.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $344.06 million. NorthWestern Energy Group had a return on equity of 7.95% and a net margin of 15.15%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.49 EPS. Equities analysts predict that NorthWestern Energy Group will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be given a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.91%. NorthWestern Energy Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 70.08%.

About NorthWestern Energy Group

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc provides electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and various industrial customers. It generates, purchases, transmits, and distributes electricity; and produces, purchases, stores, transmits, and distributes natural gas, as well as owns municipal franchises to provide natural gas service in the communities.