NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) Receives $59.25 Average Target Price from Analysts

Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $59.25.

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

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

NYSE:NWE opened at $56.33 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 stock has a market capitalization of $3.45 billion, a PE ratio of 15.43, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33. NorthWestern Energy Group has a fifty-two week low of $47.48 and a fifty-two week high of $59.52. The company has a fifty day moving average of $55.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of $54.57.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

The business 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This is a positive change from NorthWestern Energy Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.69%. NorthWestern Energy Group’s dividend payout ratio is 72.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

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 currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NorthWestern Energy Group

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. S.A. Mason LLC purchased a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $35,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc boosted its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 29.3% during the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 883 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 91.9% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 971 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 465 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 280.7% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,203 shares of the company’s stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 887 shares during the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.