Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA Trims Holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA trimmed its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 2.4% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 895,798 shares of the company's stock after selling 21,699 shares during the quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA owned 1.46% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $51,840,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in NWE. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 280.7% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,203 shares of the company's stock valued at $64,000 after buying an additional 887 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the 4th quarter worth about $631,000. Swiss National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 120,583 shares of the company's stock worth $6,446,000 after acquiring an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 47,540 shares of the company's stock worth $2,541,000 after acquiring an additional 3,734 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 14.0% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 22,989 shares of the company's stock worth $1,229,000 after acquiring an additional 2,828 shares during the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NWE traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $52.29. 479,704 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 426,659. The company has a market cap of $3.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.33, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.35. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $50.43 and a fifty-two week high of $59.89. 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 stock's 50-day moving average is $53.03 and its 200-day moving average is $54.54.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $1.22 earnings per share (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 quarter last year, the firm earned $1.09 EPS. The company's revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th were given a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.05%. NorthWestern Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 68.75%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $56.00 target price (down previously from $57.50) on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Monday, June 2nd. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $60.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $60.00.

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.