NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE) Stock Price Up 4.7% - Here's Why

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) was up 4.7% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $53.30 and last traded at $53.19. Approximately 71,569 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 79% from the average daily volume of 344,824 shares. The stock had previously closed at $50.80.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on NWE shares. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $52.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, October 21st. Bank of America assumed coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group in a research report on Thursday, September 12th. They set a "buy" rating and a $65.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $58.00 to $61.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $57.00.

NorthWestern Energy Group Trading Up 2.9 %

The firm has a market cap of $3.20 billion, a PE ratio of 13.69, a PEG 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. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $54.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $53.40.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, October 28th. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 business had revenue of $345.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $344.06 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.49 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.98%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is currently 70.08%.

Insider Activity

In other 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 10,888 shares in the company, valued at $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 available at this hyperlink. Also, Director Anthony Thomas Clark sold 7,400 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.95, for a total value of $384,430.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 16,816 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $873,591.20. The trade was a 30.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.94% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Systematic Financial Management LP raised its position in 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 during the period. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 17.0% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 759,804 shares of the company's stock worth $43,476,000 after purchasing an additional 110,461 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 36.4% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 396,409 shares of the company's stock valued at $19,840,000 after buying an additional 105,845 shares during the period. Barclays PLC lifted its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 204.7% in the third 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. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 6.3% in the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,027,698 shares of the company's stock valued at $51,467,000 after buying an additional 61,216 shares during the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.