Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC Trims Stock Position in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE)

Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC lowered its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:NWE) by 0.8% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 31,924 shares of the company’s stock after selling 270 shares during the quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC’s holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group were worth $1,707,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of NWE. S.A. Mason LLC acquired a new position in NorthWestern Energy Group in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new position in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group during the third quarter worth about $35,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 29.3% during the fourth quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 883 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the period. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 91.9% during the fourth quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 971 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in NorthWestern Energy Group by 280.7% in the fourth 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 period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.07% of the company’s stock.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

Shares of NWE stock opened at $58.90 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $54.89 and a 200 day moving average price of $54.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a current ratio of 0.52. The stock has a market cap of $3.61 billion, a PE ratio of 16.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.33. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. has a 1 year low of $47.48 and a 1 year high of $58.99.

NorthWestern Energy Group Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Barclays cut their target price on NorthWestern Energy Group from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded NorthWestern Energy Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $57.50 price objective for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. Finally, Guggenheim upgraded shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $59.25.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Britt E. Ide sold 702 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 11,021 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $598,660.72. This trade represents a 5.99 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.94% of the company’s stock.

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.