NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. $NWE Shares Sold by Vanguard Group Inc.

Key Points

• Vanguard Group Inc. reduced its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.1%, selling 75,154 shares, but still holds approximately 11.04% of the company, valued at $392 million.
• Several hedge funds, including Farther Finance Advisors LLC and CWM LLC, have increased their positions in NorthWestern Energy Group, demonstrating growing institutional interest.
• NorthWestern Energy Group declared a quarterly dividend of $0.66 per share, translating to an annualized dividend of $2.64, which yields 4.8% for shareholders.

Vanguard Group Inc. lowered its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 1.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,774,365 shares of the company's stock after selling 75,154 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. owned about 11.04% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $392,033,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 13.2% during the 1st quarter. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. now owns 1,001,201 shares of the company's stock worth $57,940,000 after purchasing an additional 117,087 shares during the period. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC purchased a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $200,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.0% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 26,322 shares of the company's stock worth $1,523,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the first quarter worth about $9,899,000. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the first quarter worth about $951,000. 96.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on NWE shares. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $56.00 target price (down previously from $57.50) on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in a research note on Monday, June 2nd. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $60.00 target price for the company. Barclays upped their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target 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. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, NorthWestern Energy Group presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $60.00.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Up 6.2%

Shares of NWE stock traded up $3.3870 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $58.3170. The stock had a trading volume of 1,051,845 shares, compared to its average volume of 465,128. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $50.43 and a 12-month high of $59.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.35. The firm's 50-day moving average is $52.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $54.67. 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 quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 previous year, the company posted $0.53 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. NorthWestern Energy Group has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.530-3.650 EPS. On average, 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid 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 4.5%. NorthWestern Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 71.93%.

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.