Northwest Natural (NYSE:NWN) Sets New 52-Week High – Should You Buy?

Northwest Natural Holding (NYSE:NWN)’s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $41.34 and last traded at $40.85, with a volume of 101711 shares. The stock had previously closed at $39.10.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NWN has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Northwest Natural from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, August 5th. Janney Montgomery Scott raised Northwest Natural from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the company from $36.00 to $43.00 in a report on Monday, August 5th.

Northwest Natural Trading Up 4.7 %

The company has a market capitalization of $1.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.78 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.17, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $39.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.49.

Northwest Natural Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.79%. This is a positive change from Northwest Natural’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 31st. Northwest Natural’s dividend payout ratio is 89.91%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Northwest Natural

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Northwest Natural by 173.5% in the second quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 796 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 505 shares in the last quarter. EntryPoint Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Northwest Natural in the first quarter worth $32,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Northwest Natural in the third quarter worth $34,000. Quest Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Northwest Natural by 12,044.4% in the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 1,093 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 1,084 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Northwest Natural during the first quarter valued at about $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.13% of the company’s stock.

About Northwest Natural

Northwest Natural Holding Company, through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the United States. The company operates a mist gas storage facility contracted to other utilities, third-party marketers, and electric generators; offers natural gas asset management services; and operates an appliance retail center.