MetLife Investment Management LLC Raises Stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE - Free Report) by 4.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 102,415 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 4,453 shares during the quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC owned 0.17% of NorthWestern Energy Group worth $5,475,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. S.A. Mason LLC purchased a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 29.3% in the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 883 shares of the company's stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 91.9% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 971 shares of the company's stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 887 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.07% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at NorthWestern Energy Group

In related news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of NorthWestern Energy Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.32, for a total transaction of $38,132.64. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,021 shares in the company, valued at approximately $598,660.72. The trade was a 5.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.94% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

Shares of NWE traded up $0.15 on Tuesday, reaching $58.95. The company's stock had a trading volume of 106,355 shares, compared to its average volume of 380,431. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $56.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $54.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.16, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $48.52 and a 12-month high of $59.52.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.66 per share. This is an increase from NorthWestern Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.48%. NorthWestern Energy Group's payout ratio is presently 72.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

NWE has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $57.50 price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Guggenheim upgraded shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $56.00 to $59.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $59.92.

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.