NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) Shares Sold by AQR Capital Management LLC

AQR Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 2.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 419,916 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,763 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC owned about 0.68% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $22,449,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. S.A. Mason LLC purchased a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group in the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 29.3% during the fourth quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 883 shares of the company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 91.9% in the fourth 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 last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 280.7% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,203 shares of the company's stock valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 887 shares during the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

NYSE NWE traded down $0.60 on Friday, hitting $56.44. 95,803 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 386,764. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $56.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $54.83. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $48.52 and a fifty-two week high of $59.89. The firm has a market cap of $3.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.46, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.37.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.18 by $0.04. NorthWestern Energy Group had a net margin of 14.81% and a return on equity of 7.40%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.09 EPS. The firm's revenue was down 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.63 EPS for the current year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.68%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. NorthWestern Energy Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 68.75%.

Insider Activity

In other NorthWestern Energy Group news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of NorthWestern Energy Group stock in a transaction dated 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 owns 11,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $598,660.72. The trade was a 5.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.94% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Guggenheim upgraded shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $57.50 target price for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, NorthWestern Energy Group presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $60.25.

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.