NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) Receives Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by the seven research firms that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $59.42.

NWE has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Guggenheim raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Barclays boosted their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $57.50 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st.

NorthWestern Energy Group Trading Down 1.7 %

NWE traded down $0.91 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $51.96. 683,560 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 321,881. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.01, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.48. NorthWestern Energy Group has a 1-year low of $46.78 and a 1-year high of $57.49. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $53.06 and its 200-day moving average price is $54.13. 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 Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.08%. This is a positive change from NorthWestern Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is presently 70.08%.

Insider Activity at NorthWestern Energy Group

In other NorthWestern Energy Group news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 700 shares of the business'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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 10,888 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $583,270.16. The trade was a 6.04 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Anthony Thomas Clark sold 7,400 shares of the business's 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 sale, the director now directly owns 16,816 shares of the company's stock, valued at $873,591.20. This represents a 30.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.94% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of NorthWestern Energy Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. S.A. Mason LLC bought a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Quest Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew 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 acquiring an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is owned by 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.