Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Increases Stock Position in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 20.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 443,148 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 76,114 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 0.72% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $23,690,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $631,000. Systematic Financial Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 11.8% in the third quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 1,070,434 shares of the company's stock valued at $61,250,000 after purchasing an additional 113,265 shares in the last quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. purchased a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $401,000. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group during the third quarter worth $703,000. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 204.7% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 110,571 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,327,000 after buying an additional 74,278 shares during the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on NWE shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $57.50 price objective on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of 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, Guggenheim upgraded shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, NorthWestern Energy Group currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $59.25.

Remove Ads

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

NWE traded down $0.92 on Tuesday, hitting $54.65. The company's stock had a trading volume of 500,803 shares, compared to its average volume of 341,722. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $54.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $54.48. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $47.48 and a 12 month high of $57.49. The firm has a market cap of $3.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.45.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.83%. This is a positive change from NorthWestern Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is presently 72.33%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the business's stock in a transaction 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 directly owns 11,021 shares in the company, valued at $598,660.72. The trade was a 5.99 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.94% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

NorthWestern Energy Group Company 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.