(NWE) NorthWestern - Overview
Sector: Utilities | Industry: Utilities - Regulated Electric | Exchange: NASDAQ (USA) | Market Cap: 4.416m USD | Total Return: 35% in 12m
Avg Turnover: 28.9M
EPS Trend: 82.8%
Qual. Beats: 0
Rev. Trend: 81.5%
Qual. Beats: 0
Warnings
High Debt while negative Cash Flow
Altman Z'' 0.61 < 1.0 - financial distress zone
Tailwinds
Confidence
NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) is a vertically integrated utility provider serving approximately 850,300 customers across Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska. The company manages a comprehensive infrastructure network that includes over 28,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines and approximately 11,000 miles of natural gas pipelines. Its operations encompass the full utility value chain, from generation and production to storage and retail distribution for residential and industrial sectors.
As a regulated multi-utility, NorthWestern Energy operates under a cost-of-service model where rates are set by state commissions, providing a predictable framework for capital recovery. The utility sector is characterized by high barriers to entry due to the capital-intensive nature of maintaining extensive physical grids and substations. Investors may find it useful to examine ValueRay for further data on utility sector valuations. Founded in 1923 and headquartered in Sioux Falls, the company maintains long-term municipal franchises that grant it exclusive rights to provide essential energy services within its designated territories.
- Regulatory rate case outcomes in Montana drive multi-year utility earnings growth
- Infrastructure capital expenditure requirements impact long-term debt levels and credit ratings
- Extreme weather patterns influence seasonal electricity and natural gas demand volatility
- Regional economic expansion in South Dakota fuels new customer connection revenue
- Transition toward carbon-free generation assets increases long-term rate base valuation
| Net Income: 167.6m TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: -0.02 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA -0.07 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: -13.27% < 20% (prev 5.00%; Δ -18.26% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.05 > 3% & CFO 400.5m > Net Income 167.6m |
| Net Debt (3.29b) to EBITDA (577.3m): 5.70 < 3 |
| Current Ratio: 0.70 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (61.6m) vs 12m ago 0.48% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 61.90% > 18% (prev 0.58%; Δ 6.13k% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 19.68% > 50% (prev 18.58%; Δ 1.10% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: 2.10 > 6 (EBITDA TTM 577.3m / Interest Expense TTM 153.9m) |
| A: -0.03 (Total Current Assets 513.2m - Total Current Liabilities 730.9m) / Total Assets 8.58b |
| B: 0.11 (Retained Earnings 919.1m / Total Assets 8.58b) |
| C: 0.04 (EBIT TTM 323.3m / Avg Total Assets 8.34b) |
| D: 0.16 (Book Value of Equity 913.8m / Total Liabilities 5.67b) |
| Altman-Z'' = 0.61 = B |
| DSRI: 0.97 (Receivables 199.3m/187.5m, Revenue 1.64b/1.51b) |
| GMI: 0.94 (GM 61.90% / 58.33%) |
| AQI: 1.00 (AQ_t 0.15 / AQ_t-1 0.15) |
| SGI: 1.09 (Revenue 1.64b / 1.51b) |
| TATA: -0.03 (NI 167.6m - CFO 400.5m) / TA 8.58b) |
| Beneish M = -3.06 (Cap -4..+1) = AA |
As of May 25, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 71.79 with a total of 417,091 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by +2.41%,
over one month by +1.04%,
over three months by +4.66% and
over the past year by +34.97%.
NorthWestern has received a consensus analysts rating of 4.10. Therefore, it is recommended to buy NWE.
- StrongBuy: 5
- Buy: 1
- Hold: 4
- Sell: 0
- StrongSell: 0
| Analysts Target Price | 71.4 | -0.5% |
P/E Forward = 18.3486
P/S = 2.69
P/B = 1.5129
P/EG = 2.8666
Revenue TTM = 1.64b USD
EBIT TTM = 323.3m USD
EBITDA TTM = 577.3m USD
Long Term Debt = 3.18b USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 106.8m USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 3.29b USD (from shortLongTermDebtTotal, last quarter) + Leases 10.3m
Net Debt = 3.29b USD (calculated: Debt 3.29b - CCE 5.86m)
Enterprise Value = 7.70b USD (4.42b + Debt 3.29b - CCE 5.86m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = 2.10 (Ebit TTM 323.3m / Interest Expense TTM 153.9m)
EV/FCF = -52.08x (Enterprise Value 7.70b / FCF TTM -147.9m)
FCF Yield = -1.92% (FCF TTM -147.9m / Enterprise Value 7.70b)
FCF Margin = -9.01% (FCF TTM -147.9m / Revenue TTM 1.64b)
Net Margin = 10.21% (Net Income TTM 167.6m / Revenue TTM 1.64b)
Gross Margin = 61.90% ((Revenue TTM 1.64b - Cost of Revenue TTM 625.3m) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = 57.31% (prev 49.04%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 0.90 (Enterprise Value 7.70b / Total Assets 8.58b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 4.67% (Interest Expense 153.9m / Debt 3.29b)
Taxrate = 17.86% (13.8m / 77.3m)
NOPAT = 265.6m (EBIT 323.3m * (1 - 17.86%))
Current Ratio = 0.70 (Total Current Assets 513.2m / Total Current Liabilities 730.9m)
Debt / Equity = 1.13 (Debt 3.29b / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 2.91b)
Debt / EBITDA = 5.70 (Net Debt 3.29b / EBITDA 577.3m)
Debt / FCF = -22.23 (negative FCF - burning cash) (Net Debt 3.29b / FCF TTM -147.9m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 2.89b (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = 2.01% (Net Income 167.6m / Total Assets 8.58b)
RoE = 5.80% (Net Income TTM 167.6m / Total Stockholder Equity 2.89b)
RoCE = 5.33% (EBIT 323.3m / Capital Employed (Equity 2.89b + L.T.Debt 3.18b))
RoIC = 3.34% (NOPAT 265.6m / Invested Capital 7.95b)
WACC = 5.37% (E(4.42b)/V(7.71b) * Re(6.52%) + D(3.29b)/V(7.71b) * Rd(4.67%) * (1-Tc(0.18)))
Discount Rate = 6.52% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: 64.44 | Cagr: 0.28%
[DCF] Fair Price = unknown (Cash Flow -147.9m)
EPS Correlation: 82.78 | EPS CAGR: 6.62% | SUE: -0.78 | # QB: 0
Revenue Correlation: 81.49 | Revenue CAGR: 3.85% | SUE: -0.30 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=0.53 | Chg30d=+26.04% | Revisions=+33% | Analysts=6
EPS next Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=0.80 | Chg30d=+15.05% | Revisions=+33% | Analysts=6
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=3.73 | Chg30d=-1.31% | Revisions=-50% | GrowthEPS=+4.2% | GrowthRev=+8.2%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=3.97 | Chg30d=-0.45% | Revisions=+0% | GrowthEPS=+6.3% | GrowthRev=+4.5%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: -50%