Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC Invests $307,000 in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor purchased 5,309 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $307,000.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in NWE. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,849,519 shares of the company's stock worth $366,175,000 after acquiring an additional 56,180 shares during the last quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 1,110,574 shares of the company's stock worth $59,371,000 after acquiring an additional 40,140 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.4% in the 4th 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 during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 391.6% in the 4th 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 last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 9.9% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 904,579 shares of the company's stock worth $48,359,000 after acquiring an additional 81,852 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.07% of the company's stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

NorthWestern Energy Group stock traded up $0.07 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $52.53. 309,505 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 421,613. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $50.43 and a 12-month 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 has a market cap of $3.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.35. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $53.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $54.60.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $1.22 earnings per share (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 in the prior year, the company posted $1.09 EPS. NorthWestern Energy Group's revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.63 EPS for the current year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th were paid a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.03%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. NorthWestern Energy Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 68.75%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on NWE. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $56.00 target price (down from $57.50) on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased 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. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $60.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, NorthWestern Energy Group has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target 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.