Franklin Resources Inc. Sells 13,458 Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Franklin Resources Inc. cut its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 1.0% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,323,212 shares of the company's stock after selling 13,458 shares during the quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. owned about 2.16% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $70,739,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in NWE. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,849,519 shares of the company's stock valued at $366,175,000 after buying an additional 56,180 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,504,400 shares of the company's stock valued at $143,302,000 after purchasing an additional 42,104 shares in the last quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 2,371,931 shares of the company's stock valued at $126,803,000 after purchasing an additional 136,922 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,536,518 shares of the company's stock worth $87,935,000 after buying an additional 35,279 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Systematic Financial Management LP lifted its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 1,070,434 shares of the company's stock worth $61,250,000 after buying an additional 113,265 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.07% of the company's stock.

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Insider Activity at NorthWestern Energy Group

In other NorthWestern Energy Group news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.32, for a total transaction of $38,132.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 11,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $598,660.72. This trade represents a 5.99 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.94% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NWE has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $57.50 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Guggenheim raised shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $59.25.

NorthWestern Energy Group Trading Up 2.1 %

NWE traded up $1.15 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $55.87. 119,599 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 368,885. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a one year low of $47.48 and a one year high of $59.52. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $55.02 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $54.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.43 billion, a PE ratio of 15.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a $0.66 dividend. This is a boost from NorthWestern Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.73%. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is currently 72.33%.

NorthWestern Energy Group 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.