NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE) Sees Large Volume Increase – Still a Buy?

NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) shares saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday . Approximately 404,963 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 6% from the previous session’s volume of 432,384 shares.The stock last traded at $67.2650 and had previously closed at $67.71.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NWE has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut NorthWestern Energy Group from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $58.00 to $53.00 in a report on Tuesday. Barclays lifted their price target on NorthWestern Energy Group from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $58.40.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Down 1.8%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $66.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of $60.48. The company has a market cap of $4.08 billion, a PE ratio of 18.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.35.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.75 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 in the prior year, the business posted $0.65 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate 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 Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, December 15th were issued a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. NorthWestern Energy Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 74.79%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NWE. Millennium Management LLC acquired a new stake in NorthWestern Energy Group in the 1st quarter worth about $5,708,000. United Services Automobile Association purchased a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the first quarter valued at approximately $220,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 13.5% in the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 154,776 shares of the company’s stock worth $8,957,000 after acquiring an additional 18,454 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the second quarter worth approximately $230,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group in the second quarter worth approximately $321,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.07% of the company’s stock.

About NorthWestern Energy Group

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE: NWE) is a regulated energy utility company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The company delivers electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers across a service territory that spans Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, NorthWestern Corporation, it operates a diversified portfolio of generation assets, including thermal, hydroelectric and renewable facilities, as well as an extensive network of transmission and distribution lines.

NorthWestern Energy’s primary business activities encompass the delivery, transmission and sale of electric and natural gas services.