Dean Investment Associates LLC Lowers Holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Dean Investment Associates LLC decreased its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 64.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,336 shares of the company's stock after selling 49,801 shares during the period. Dean Investment Associates LLC's holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group were worth $1,461,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NWE. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the 4th quarter worth $40,236,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the 4th quarter valued at $29,978,000. DRW Securities LLC bought a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group in the 4th quarter worth about $11,275,000. River Road Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 6.1% during the fourth quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 2,371,931 shares of the company's stock worth $126,803,000 after purchasing an additional 136,922 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 18.1% during the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 886,066 shares of the company's stock valued at $47,369,000 after buying an additional 135,611 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.07% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the firm'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 completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 11,021 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $598,660.72. This trade represents a 5.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.94% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on NWE shares. Guggenheim raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Barclays upped their target price on NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday. 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 report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $59.92.

NorthWestern Energy Group Price Performance

Shares of NWE traded down $0.71 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $58.07. 81,176 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 379,089. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $55.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $54.60. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $48.52 and a 52-week high of $59.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a current ratio of 0.52. The company has a market cap of $3.56 billion, a PE ratio of 15.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

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

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.