Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Boosts Holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 0.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,033,437 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,544 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned approximately 1.69% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $55,248,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 204.7% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 110,571 shares of the company's stock worth $6,327,000 after purchasing an additional 74,278 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group during the 3rd quarter valued at about $35,000. Everence Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group during the fourth quarter worth about $498,000. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC boosted its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Oliver Luxxe Assets LLC now owns 70,483 shares of the company's stock worth $3,768,000 after acquiring an additional 3,161 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AdvisorNet Financial Inc grew its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 29.3% in the fourth quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 883 shares of the company's stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.07% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

Shares of NWE stock traded down $0.29 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $57.37. 39,711 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 386,252. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $48.52 and a 12-month high of $59.89. The company has a market cap of $3.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.40. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $56.82 and a 200 day moving average price of $54.82. 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 earnings per share 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%. NorthWestern Energy Group's revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.09 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.60%. NorthWestern Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 68.75%.

Insider Buying and Selling at NorthWestern Energy Group

In related news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of NorthWestern Energy Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.32, for a total value 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. This trade represents a 5.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.94% of the company's stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group 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.