NorthWestern Energy (NWE) Valuation: Is There Upside After a 22% Rally in 2024?

Simply Wall St
NorthWestern Energy Group (NWE) has seen its stock price steadily climb, rising over 22% year-to-date. Investors are taking a closer look at what is driving this momentum and what it could mean going forward.

See our latest analysis for NorthWestern Energy Group.

NorthWestern Energy Group’s share price has surged over 22% so far this year, reflecting renewed optimism as investors respond to steady growth signals and a stronger outlook for the utility sector. This momentum is underscored by a 1-year total shareholder return of nearly 26%, comfortably outpacing many peers and suggesting that confidence in the company’s long-term prospects has grown stronger.

If you’re watching strong performance like this and want to see what else could be gathering steam, it’s a great time to explore fast growing stocks with high insider ownership.

Yet with such an impressive run, the question now is whether NorthWestern Energy Group’s shares still offer value for new investors. Investors may also wonder if the recent gains already reflect expectations for future growth and whether potential upside is limited.

Most Popular Narrative: 9.5% Overvalued

NorthWestern Energy Group’s narrative fair value stands at $59.40 using a 6.8% discount rate, which is notably below the latest closing price of $65.02. This gap between market optimism and analyst consensus raises questions about how future market drivers are being incorporated.

Recent legislative reform (Montana wildfire liability law and streamlined transmission approvals) meaningfully reduces operational risk and regulatory uncertainty. This positions the company to invest aggressively in grid modernization and transmission upgrades, supporting long-term capital deployment and earnings stability.

Read the complete narrative.

What’s the bold play behind this valuation? The crux of the narrative rests on ambitious future growth projections and a possible rerating to a profit multiple usually reserved for faster-growing sectors. Want to see what scenario tips the scales on earnings, margins, and the future PE? Follow the narrative and see what numbers drive this fair value call.

Result: Fair Value of $59.40 (OVERVALUED)

Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts.

However, challenges remain, as NorthWestern’s coal reliance and exposure to regulatory shifts could threaten future margins and make otherwise optimistic growth projections more uncertain.

Find out about the key risks to this NorthWestern Energy Group narrative.

Build Your Own NorthWestern Energy Group Narrative

If you see things differently or want to dive into the numbers your way, you can quickly craft your own view and narrative in just a few minutes. So why not Do it your way?

A great starting point for your NorthWestern Energy Group research is our analysis highlighting 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Valuation is complex, but we're here to simplify it.

Discover if NorthWestern Energy Group might be undervalued or overvalued with our detailed analysis, featuring fair value estimates, potential risks, dividends, insider trades, and its financial condition.

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