NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE) Price Target Raised to $59.00

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) had its price target boosted by Barclays from $56.00 to $59.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

NWE has been the topic of several other research reports. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded 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. Wells Fargo & Company lifted 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. Finally, Guggenheim raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, NorthWestern Energy Group has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $59.92.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of NWE traded down $0.43 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $58.09. 48,149 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 487,063. NorthWestern Energy Group has a 1 year low of $48.52 and a 1 year high of $59.52. The firm's fifty day moving average is $56.08 and its 200-day moving average is $54.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.56 billion, a price-to-earnings 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 business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.55%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from NorthWestern Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is 72.33%.

Insider Transactions at NorthWestern Energy Group

In related news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the 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 sale, the director now directly owns 11,021 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $598,660.72. This represents a 5.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.94% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On NorthWestern Energy Group

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NWE. S.A. Mason LLC purchased a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 29.3% during the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 883 shares of the company's stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Farther Finance Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 155.3% during the 1st quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 845 shares of the company's stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 514 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 91.9% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 971 shares of the company's stock valued at $52,000 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 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.