NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) Shares Purchased by Zacks Investment Management

Zacks Investment Management raised its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) by 12.2% in the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,865 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 528 shares during the period. Zacks Investment Management’s holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group were worth $260,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in NWE. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 204.7% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 110,571 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,327,000 after purchasing an additional 74,278 shares during the period. Passumpsic Savings Bank acquired a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $610,000. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $286,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Everence Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group in the 4th quarter valued at $498,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.07% of the company’s stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group stock opened at $58.77 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $55.63 and its 200-day simple moving average is $54.55. The stock has a market cap of $3.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $48.52 and a 1-year high of $59.52.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.49%. This is a positive change from NorthWestern Energy Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. NorthWestern Energy Group’s payout ratio is 72.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling at NorthWestern Energy Group

In other news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.32, for a total transaction of $38,132.64. Following the transaction, the director now owns 11,021 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $598,660.72. The trade was a 5.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.94% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, April 14th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded 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. Guggenheim upgraded NorthWestern Energy Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $59.42.

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.