Wells Fargo & Company Issues Pessimistic Forecast for NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE) Stock Price

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE) had its price objective decreased by Wells Fargo & Company from $53.00 to $52.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “underweight” rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s price objective would suggest a potential downside of 24.60% from the company’s previous close.

Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of NorthWestern Energy Group from $60.00 to $61.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on NorthWestern Energy Group from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, NorthWestern Energy Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $60.20.

NorthWestern Energy Group Stock Performance

NorthWestern Energy Group stock traded up $0.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $68.97. 59,308 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 613,733. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $66.57 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $61.94. NorthWestern Energy Group has a twelve month low of $50.46 and a twelve month high of $71.25. The firm has a market cap of $4.24 billion, a PE ratio of 18.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94, a quick ratio of 0.37 and a current ratio of 0.52.

NorthWestern Energy Group (NYSE:NWE) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 12th. The company reported $1.17 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.19 by ($0.02). NorthWestern Energy Group had a return on equity of 7.40% and a net margin of 14.81%.During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.13 EPS. NorthWestern Energy Group’s quarterly revenue was up 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. NorthWestern Energy Group has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.680-3.830 EPS. Equities analysts predict that NorthWestern Energy Group will post 3.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On NorthWestern Energy Group

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 28.5% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 879 shares of the company’s stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its stake in NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 19,320 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,132,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio lifted its holdings in NorthWestern Energy Group by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 18,800 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,213,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 34.3% during the 2nd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 845 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 216 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC grew its holdings in shares of NorthWestern Energy Group by 3.4% during the third quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 6,763 shares of the company’s stock worth $396,000 after buying an additional 224 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.07% of the company’s stock.

Trending Headlines about NorthWestern Energy Group

Here are the key news stories impacting NorthWestern Energy Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.67 (1.5% increase vs prior quarter), sustaining a near 3.9% yield — supportive for income investors and dividend valuation.
• Positive Sentiment: NorthWestern outlined a $3.21B capital plan and a 5% EPS growth target as merger and data‑center transactions advance, which supports longer‑term earnings growth and rate base expansion. Northwestern outlines $3.21B capital plan and 5% EPS growth target
• Positive Sentiment: BMO Capital Markets raised its price target from $65 to $70 (maintaining a “market perform” rating), which can support near‑term sentiment among analysts and income‑oriented holders. NWE price target raised at BMO
• Neutral Sentiment: Management and analysts released transcripts from the quarter (useful for detail on regulatory items, rate cases and M&A progress); these provide color but no immediate shock. NorthWestern Energy (NWE) Earnings Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 EPS came in at $1.17 vs. a $1.19 consensus (small miss), though revenue rose ~10.9% YoY — the EPS shortfall and higher operating costs weigh on near‑term sentiment. Q4 2025 earnings call transcript
• Negative Sentiment: FY2026 EPS guidance was set at $3.680–$3.830, slightly below consensus (~$3.82), which tempers upside expectations for the year.
• Negative Sentiment: Full‑year 2025 results showed net income declined to $181.1M ($2.94/share) from $224.1M ($3.65/share) a year earlier, driven by higher operating expenses including a non‑cash regulatory disallowance — a meaningful near‑term earnings headwind. NorthWestern Energy Reports 2025 Financial Results

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.