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David Anderson, the CEO of Northwest Natural Holding Co (NYSE:NWN), recently sold 7,500 shares of the company’s common stock, totaling approximately $310,973. The transaction, executed on March 24, 2025, was made under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan, which allows insiders to set up a predetermined plan to sell stock. The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $41.4631, with individual sale prices ranging from $41.28 to $41.615. According to InvestingPro data, the stock currently trades near its 52-week high of $44.25, with relatively low price volatility and appears slightly overvalued based on Fair Value analysis.
Following this sale, Anderson retains direct ownership of 117,382 shares. Additionally, he holds 10,256 shares in the Northwest Natural Gas Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors and Officers. Anderson’s trading plan was established as he prepares for retirement, effective April 1, 2025, and aims to diversify his holdings. The company, with a market capitalization of $1.66 billion, has maintained dividend payments for 55 consecutive years and carries a "Fair" financial health score according to InvestingPro’s comprehensive analysis, which offers additional insights through its detailed Pro Research Report.
In other recent news, Northwest Natural Gas reported its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings, showing mixed results. The company’s earnings per share (EPS) met expectations at $1.41, but revenue fell short, coming in at $370.87 million compared to the anticipated $395.07 million. This discrepancy highlights potential areas for improvement in revenue generation. The company also completed the largest Oregon gas utility rate case in its history, which is expected to impact future earnings positively. Looking ahead, Northwest Natural Gas has provided guidance for 2025, projecting EPS between $2.75 and $2.95.
Stifel analysts have raised their price target for Northwest Natural Gas to $45.00, up from $44.00, while maintaining a Buy rating. This adjustment follows the company’s fourth-quarter results and anticipates a significant earnings increase in 2025, largely driven by the acquisition of SiEnergy. The acquisition is expected to double the company’s annual customer growth rate to a range of 2.0 to 2.5%. Additionally, Northwest Natural Gas plans to report its water business and SiEnergy as separate entities starting in the first quarter of 2025, a move anticipated by the market. The company’s Oregon rate case is also set to take effect in late 2025, which may further boost its performance going into 2026.
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