Fact based stock research
NorthWestern (NYSE:NWE)

US6680743050

How to read the free ranks

For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).

(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.

NorthWestern stock research in summary

northwesternenergy.com

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 50 (better than 50% compared with investment alternatives), NorthWestern (Multi-Utilities, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of NorthWestern are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 87 (better than 87% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 21), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 48), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 50, is a buy recommendation based on NorthWestern's financial characteristics. As the company NorthWestern's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 87) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 21) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 48), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 87% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	87
Growth Rank	21
Safety Rank	48
Combined Rank	50

Country	USA
Industry	Multi-Utilities
Index	Dividends USA, Human Rights, S&P MIDCAP
Size class	Large

19-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

Multiple opinions. One number.

Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.

Why popular stocks have low ratings

It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.

Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: NorthWestern

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	44	83	72	87
GROWTH
GROWTH	33	23	85	21
SAFETY
SAFETY	5	48	56	48
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	n/a	53	14	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	n/a	45	70	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 19-Dec-2024. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2024. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better NorthWestern is in the corresponding investment strategy.
Upgrade to a Premium Account to access the latest ranks.

Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2021	2022	2023	2024
VALUE
VALUE	44	83	72	87
GROWTH
GROWTH	33	23	85	21
SAFETY
SAFETY	5	48	56	48
COMBINED
COMBINED	11	50	94	50

Last update of combined financial performance: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of NorthWestern the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 87 (better than 87% compared with alternatives) for 2024, NorthWestern shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for NorthWestern. Price-to-Sales is 66 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 66% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for NorthWestern's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 76% of alternatives, and this is also true for the Price-to-Book capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 97. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of NorthWestern are expected to be higher than for 87% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 87). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 87, is a buy recommendation based on NorthWestern's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since all value metrics are above the industry average, there is no objection to investing in NorthWestern based on its detailed value metrics. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more

VALUE METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	28	50	45	66
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	33	70	57	76
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	49	91	95	97
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	61	87	80	87
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	44	83	72	87

Last update of Value Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of NorthWestern; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 21 (better than 21% compared with alternatives), NorthWestern shows one of the most restricted growth dynamics in its industry. There is little momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below-average for NorthWestern. While Sales Growth ranks at 60, professionals currently expect the company to grow more than 60% of its competitors, while all other growth ranks are below the market median. Profit Growth has a rank of 48, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 52% of its competitors, and Capital Growth has a low rank of 26. Historic stock returns were also below average with a current Stock Returns rank of 13 which means that the stock returns have recently been below 87% of alternative investments. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 21, is a sell recommendation for growth and momentum investors. If revenues are expected to increase, but all other growth indicators are negative, the company may be investing in future growth through means not visible in the balance sheet and thus not reflected in capital growth. The fact that Stock Returns have been below market doesn't mean that much, as it may be due to overly optimistic investor behavior in the past, which has been corrected to a more reasonable level recently. If that were the case, a positive Value Rank would be a reason to invest because the company is still expected to grow, while stock prices are now at a more reasonable level. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance isn't stellar here. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	38	47	94	60
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	22	79	38	48
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	n/a	23	81	26
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	55	13	55	13
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	33	23	85	21

Last update of Growth Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of NorthWestern.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 48 (better than 48% compared with alternatives), the company NorthWestern has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of NorthWestern is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for NorthWestern and the other two below average. Leverage is at a rank of 92 meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 92% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 10, which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 90% of its competitors. Liquidity is at a rank of 46, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 54% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 48 (worse than 52% compared with alternatives), NorthWestern has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. This is an indication that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. There is only below-market average liquidity, and a short-term refinancing issue might be around the corner. But in the long-term, the debt levels of NorthWestern are on the safer side. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge and liquidity issues with NorthWestern and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2021	2022	2023	2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	25	66	90	92
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	29	70	34	10
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	13	26	38	46
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	5	48	56	48

Last update of Safety Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of NorthWestern and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2021	2022	2023	2024
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	51	31	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	n/a	50	34	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	n/a	57	52	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	n/a	52	3	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	n/a	53	14	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 19-Dec-2024. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for NorthWestern.
Upgrade to a Premium Account to access the latest ranks.