Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Takes $1.82 Million Position in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH has acquired a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, purchasing 31,486 shares valued at approximately $1.82 million, which represents about 0.05% of the company.
• Multiple hedge funds, including Farther Finance Advisors LLC and CWM LLC, have significantly increased their positions in NorthWestern Energy Group during the first quarter.
• The company reported earnings of $1.22 per share for the last quarter, beating analysts' estimates, despite experiencing a 1.8% revenue decline year-over-year.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 31,486 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,822,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned about 0.05% of NorthWestern Energy Group at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 7,179 shares of the company's stock valued at $415,000 after purchasing an additional 185 shares during the last quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. State of Michigan Retirement System now owns 14,728 shares of the company's stock valued at $852,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 17,200 shares of the company's stock valued at $995,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming lifted its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 4,138 shares of the company's stock valued at $221,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New York State Teachers Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 75,478 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,368,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on NWE shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reiterated a "neutral" rating and issued a $56.00 price target (down from $57.50) on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Monday, June 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on 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 started coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. They issued a "market perform" rating and a $60.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. 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.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $60.00.

NorthWestern Energy Group Trading Up 2.6%

NWE traded up $1.40 during trading on Monday, hitting $54.93. 186,097 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 465,046. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $52.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.58. The firm has a market cap of $3.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.35. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $50.43 and a 1 year 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.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.02. NorthWestern Energy Group had a return on equity of 7.40% and a net margin of 14.81%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.53 EPS. NorthWestern Energy Group's revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. will post 3.63 EPS for the current year.

NorthWestern Energy Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.8%. NorthWestern Energy Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 71.93%.

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.