NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) have received a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $59.42.

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Guggenheim upgraded shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday.

NorthWestern Energy Group Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group stock opened at $54.13 on Friday. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $53.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $53.99. The company has a market capitalization of $3.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.59, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 28th. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.70 by ($0.05). NorthWestern Energy Group had a net margin of 15.15% and a return on equity of 7.95%. The firm had revenue of $345.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $344.06 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.49 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that NorthWestern Energy Group will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th were paid a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.80%. NorthWestern Energy Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 70.08%.

Insider Activity at NorthWestern Energy Group

In related news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 700 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.57, for a total transaction of $37,499.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,888 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $583,270.16. This represents a 6.04 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Anthony Thomas Clark sold 7,400 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.95, for a total value of $384,430.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 16,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $873,591.20. The trade was a 30.56 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.94% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. S.A. Mason LLC acquired a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. Quest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the third quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 29.3% in the fourth quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 883 shares of the company’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.07% of the company’s stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group Company Profile

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.