Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. Cuts Stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 70.5% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,774 shares of the company's stock after selling 16,215 shares during the quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.'s holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group were worth $392,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NWE. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,849,519 shares of the company's stock valued at $366,175,000 after buying an additional 56,180 shares in the last quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 6.1% during the 4th quarter. River Road Asset Management LLC now owns 2,371,931 shares of the company's stock valued at $126,803,000 after acquiring an additional 136,922 shares during the period. Systematic Financial Management LP raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 3.7% during the 4th quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 1,110,574 shares of the company's stock valued at $59,371,000 after acquiring an additional 40,140 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,033,437 shares of the company's stock worth $55,248,000 after acquiring an additional 4,544 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 391.6% in the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 999,884 shares of the company's stock worth $53,454,000 after acquiring an additional 796,500 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.07% of the company's stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group Price Performance

NWE traded up $0.72 on Tuesday, reaching $52.02. The company had a trading volume of 422,390 shares, compared to its average volume of 415,799. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $48.52 and a 52-week high of $59.89. The company has a market cap of $3.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.37. 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 business has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.58.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 period last year, the business posted $1.09 EPS. The firm's revenue was down 1.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.63 EPS for the current year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were given a dividend of $0.66 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.07%. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is 68.75%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on NWE shares. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $60.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays lifted 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, April 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $56.00 target price (down previously from $57.50) on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $60.00.

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.