Analysts Set NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) Price Target at $59.25

Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $59.25.

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $57.50 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Barclays reduced their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Guggenheim raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd.

NorthWestern Energy Group Price Performance

Shares of NWE opened at $54.76 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a current ratio of 0.52. The firm has a market cap of $3.36 billion, a PE ratio of 15.00, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33. NorthWestern Energy Group has a twelve month low of $47.48 and a twelve month high of $59.52. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $55.05 and its 200 day moving average price is $54.54.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a $0.66 dividend. This is an increase from NorthWestern Energy Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.82%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. NorthWestern Energy Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 72.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other NorthWestern Energy Group news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.32, for a total value of $38,132.64. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 11,021 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $598,660.72. This represents a 5.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.94% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in NWE. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $631,000. Systematic Financial Management LP lifted its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 11.8% in the third quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 1,070,434 shares of the company’s stock worth $61,250,000 after purchasing an additional 113,265 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group during the fourth quarter worth $401,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. increased its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 22,989 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,229,000 after buying an additional 2,828 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 204.7% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 110,571 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,327,000 after buying an additional 74,278 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.07% of the company’s stock.

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.