Bank of Montreal Can Sells 10,586 Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Bank of Montreal Can reduced its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 20.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 40,065 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,586 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal Can owned about 0.07% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $2,142,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. acquired a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $401,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lifted its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 2,828 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 204.7% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 110,571 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,327,000 after purchasing an additional 74,278 shares in the last quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the third quarter worth approximately $286,000. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the fourth quarter worth approximately $262,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.07% of the company's stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group Trading Down 1.2 %

NYSE:NWE traded down $0.71 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $58.06. The stock had a trading volume of 222,305 shares, compared to its average volume of 489,941. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a current ratio of 0.52. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a one year low of $48.52 and a one year high of $59.52. The business's 50 day moving average is $55.63 and its 200-day moving average is $54.55. The company has a market cap of $3.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.55%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from NorthWestern Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. NorthWestern Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is 72.33%.

Insider Activity at NorthWestern Energy Group

In other NorthWestern Energy Group news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was 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 $598,660.72. The trade was a 5.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.94% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts recently commented on NWE shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, April 14th. Guggenheim upgraded shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Barclays reduced their price objective 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, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $57.50 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price 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.