BMO Capital Markets Initiates Coverage on NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE)

Investment analysts at BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage set a "market perform" rating and a $60.00 price target on the stock. BMO Capital Markets' price target indicates a potential upside of 6.97% from the company's current price.

NWE has been the topic of a number of other reports. Guggenheim raised NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Barclays increased their price objective 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. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $62.00 to $64.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $57.50 price target for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, NorthWestern Energy Group has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $60.21.

NorthWestern Energy Group Trading Up 1.2%

Shares of NWE traded up $0.65 on Tuesday, hitting $56.09. 420,086 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 393,499. NorthWestern Energy Group has a 1 year low of $48.52 and a 1 year high of $59.89. The stock's 50 day moving average is $56.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $54.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 30th. The company reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.18 by $0.04. NorthWestern Energy Group had a return on equity of 7.40% and a net margin of 14.81%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.09 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was down 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that NorthWestern Energy Group will post 3.63 earnings per share for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.32, for a total transaction of $38,132.64. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 11,021 shares of the company's stock, valued at $598,660.72. This represents a 5.99% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.94% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NorthWestern Energy Group

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. S.A. Mason LLC bought a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc lifted its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 29.3% in the fourth quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 883 shares of the company's stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 155.3% during the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 845 shares of the company's stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 514 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 91.9% during the fourth 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 during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 280.7% during the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,203 shares of the company's stock worth $64,000 after acquiring an additional 887 shares during the last quarter. 96.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.