Geode Capital Management LLC Boosts Stock Holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,536,518 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 35,279 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC owned about 2.51% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $87,935,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NWE. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.9% in the second quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 17,154 shares of the company's stock valued at $859,000 after buying an additional 323 shares in the last quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Oppenheimer Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,903 shares of the company's stock valued at $452,000 after acquiring an additional 359 shares during the period. Deroy & Devereaux Private Investment Counsel Inc. increased its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.6% in the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group during the third quarter worth $26,000. Finally, KBC Group NV raised its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 38.4% during the third quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,676 shares of the company's stock worth $96,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares during the period. 96.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NorthWestern Energy Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NWE traded up $0.10 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $52.60. The company had a trading volume of 1,225,909 shares, compared to its average volume of 354,431. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $54.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $53.38. The stock has a market cap of $3.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.45 and a quick ratio of 0.30. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $46.15 and a twelve month high of $57.49.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 28th. The company reported $0.65 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.70 by ($0.05). NorthWestern Energy Group had a return on equity of 7.95% and a net margin of 15.15%. The company had revenue of $345.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $344.06 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.49 EPS. On average, research 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 disclosed 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. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.94%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is 70.08%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NWE has been the subject of a number of research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Mizuho boosted their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $52.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Barclays raised NorthWestern Energy Group from an "underweight" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their target price for the company from $53.00 to $56.00 in a report on Thursday. Bank of America started coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group in a research note on Thursday, September 12th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $65.00 price target on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded NorthWestern Energy Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 8th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $57.50.

Insider Activity at NorthWestern Energy Group

In related news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 700 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.57, for a total value of $37,499.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 10,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $583,270.16. The trade was a 6.04 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Anthony Thomas Clark sold 7,400 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.95, for a total value of $384,430.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 16,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $873,591.20. The trade was a 30.56 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.94% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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.