Fmr LLC Raises Stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Fmr LLC increased its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) by 17.0% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 759,804 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 110,461 shares during the period. Fmr LLC’s holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group were worth $43,476,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 17,154 shares of the company’s stock worth $859,000 after buying an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 4.8% in the third quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,903 shares of the company’s stock worth $452,000 after acquiring an additional 359 shares in the last quarter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. grew its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.6% in the third quarter. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 62,205 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,559,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the third quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, KBC Group NV increased its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 38.4% during the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,676 shares of the company’s stock valued at $96,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.07% of the company’s stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group Price Performance

NYSE NWE opened at $53.43 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.40, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.48. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $46.15 and a 1-year high of $57.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.45 and a quick ratio of 0.30. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $55.04 and its 200-day moving average price is $53.35.

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

NorthWestern Energy Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th will be given a dividend of $0.65 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.87%. NorthWestern Energy Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 70.08%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on NWE. StockNews.com cut shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Mizuho increased their target price on NorthWestern Energy Group from $52.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Finally, Bank of America initiated coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Thursday, September 12th. They set a “buy” rating and a $65.00 price target on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $57.00.

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.