NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc.
NWEUtilities · Utilities - Regulated Electric · Stock · quarterly payer
Forward Yield
3.59%
Annual Dividend
$2.68
Payout Ratio
96%
5-Yr Growth
1.9%
Ex-Date
Aug 17, 2026
Frequency
Quarterly
Key facts about NWE's dividend
Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data
- As of Oct 18, 2026, NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) has a forward dividend yield of 3.59%, based on an annual dividend of $2.68 per share and a share price of $74.72.
- As of Oct 18, 2026, NWE's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (84 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
- By SmarterDividends' count, NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) has raised its dividend for 17 consecutive years as of Oct 18, 2026.
- NWE has never cut its regular dividend in the payment history SmarterDividends has on record.
- NWE's most recent ex-dividend date was Aug 17, 2026, for a dividend of $0.67 per share.
- As of Oct 18, 2026, NWE pays out 96% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
- NWE's dividend has grown at an average rate of 1.9% a year over the past five years.
- As of Oct 18, 2026, NWE's 3.59% yield is 21% below its five-year average yield of 4.56%.
- As of Oct 18, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for NWE is $59.12 per share, 21% below the $74.72 share price, so NWE screens as overvalued.
- NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
- NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) has raised its regular dividend 18 times and cut it 0 times across the 75 payments on record since 2008. Its most recent change was a 1.5% increase to $0.670 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 13, 2026.
Cite this page
SmarterDividends, "NWE Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 18, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/NWE
Summary
As of Oct 18, 2026, NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) yields 3.59% ($2.68 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of A (84/100) and has 17 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.
Is NWE a good dividend stock?
YesNorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.59% ($2.68/yr), with 17 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.
Advantages
- 17 consecutive years of dividend growth
- Never cut its dividend on record
- Top-tier dividend safety score
Risks
- Elevated payout ratio (96%)
Key Data
- Dividend Yield
- 3.59%
- Payout Ratio
- 96%
- Annual Dividend
- $2.68
- 5-Yr Avg Growth
- 1.9%
- Ex-Dividend Date
- Aug 17, 2026
- Years of Growth
- 17
- Frequency
- quarterly
- Beta
- 0.32
- Market Cap
- $4.6B
- P/E Ratio
- 27.0
- 5-Yr Total Return
- 35%
- 52-Week Range
- $58.57 – $76.68
- Dividend Safety
- A · 84/100
- Ever Cut?
- No
NWE dividend raises and cuts
NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) has raised its regular dividend 18 times and cut it 0 times across the 75 payments on record since 2008. Its most recent change was a 1.5% increase to $0.670 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 13, 2026.
| Ex-date | Change | Old → new | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2026 | Raise | $0.660 → $0.670 | +1.5% |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Raise | $0.650 → $0.660 | +1.5% |
| Mar 14, 2024 | Raise | $0.640 → $0.650 | +1.6% |
| Mar 14, 2023 | Raise | $0.630 → $0.640 | +1.6% |
| Mar 14, 2022 | Raise | $0.620 → $0.630 | +1.6% |
| Mar 12, 2021 | Raise | $0.600 → $0.620 | +3.3% |
| Mar 12, 2020 | Raise | $0.575 → $0.600 | +4.3% |
| Mar 14, 2019 | Raise | $0.550 → $0.575 | +4.5% |
| Mar 14, 2018 | Raise | $0.525 → $0.550 | +4.8% |
| Mar 13, 2017 | Raise | $0.500 → $0.525 | +5.0% |
| Mar 11, 2016 | Raise | $0.480 → $0.500 | +4.2% |
| Mar 11, 2015 | Raise | $0.400 → $0.480 | +20.0% |
Show all 18 changes since 2009
| Ex-date | Change | Old → new | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2014 | Raise | $0.380 → $0.400 | +5.3% |
| Mar 13, 2013 | Raise | $0.370 → $0.380 | +2.7% |
| Mar 13, 2012 | Raise | $0.360 → $0.370 | +2.8% |
| Mar 11, 2011 | Raise | $0.340 → $0.360 | +5.9% |
| Mar 11, 2010 | Raise | $0.335 → $0.340 | +1.5% |
| Mar 11, 2009 | Raise | $0.330 → $0.335 | +1.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NWE a good dividend stock?
Yes. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.59% ($2.68/yr), with 17 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.
Is NWE undervalued?
Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, NWE's fair value is about $59.12 versus a $74.72 share price — so it looks overvalued (-21% vs. fair value).
Is NWE's dividend safe?
NWE has a dividend-safety grade of A (84/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 17-year growth streak, a clean no-cut history, debt and yield-versus-history.
What is NWE's fair value?
Our blended fair-value estimate for NWE is about $59.12 per share, about 21% below the current $74.72 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.
Is NWE a buy, hold, or sell?
We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data NWE screens as "yes" and overvalued. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NWE) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 3.59% ($2.68/yr), with 17 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.
Will NWE cut its dividend?
NWE earns a dividend-safety grade of A (84/100), with no dividend cut on record. A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.
Does NWE pay a dividend?
Yes. NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $2.68 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 3.59%.
What is NWE's dividend yield?
As of Oct 18, 2026, NWE's forward dividend yield is 3.59%, based on a $2.68 annual dividend and a $74.72 share price.
What is NWE's dividend per share?
As of Oct 18, 2026, NWE pays $2.68 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.
What is NWE's dividend payout ratio?
As of Oct 18, 2026, NWE's payout ratio is 96% of trailing 12-month earnings — an elevated level worth watching, as it leaves less cushion if earnings dip.
How many years has NWE grown its dividend?
As of Oct 18, 2026, NWE has increased its dividend for 17 consecutive years.
When is the next NWE ex-dividend date?
As of Oct 18, 2026, NWE's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Aug 17, 2026, for $0.67 per share.
NWE Price — Last 12 Months
Daily close
Price Return
1 Year
+8%
3 Years
+49%
5 Years
+35%
52-Week Range
$58.57 – $76.68
Price change over each period (excludes dividends). Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
What is NWE worth?
Overvaluedmedium confidenceOur blended fair-value estimate for NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. is $59.12 per share, versus a market price of $74.72. That implies 21% of downside.
Fair Value
$59.12
Current Price
$74.72
Downside
-21%
Margin of Safety
-26%
How we get there
Dividend discount
Discounts the future dividend stream back to today.
Earnings multiple (Graham)
Graham's earnings-multiple formula, anchored to bond yields.
At today's price, the market is pricing in about 29.7% annual free-cash-flow growth. We model 6.5% — so the price already assumes faster growth than we think is likely.
Assumptions: 8.0% discount rate (CAPM), 6.5% growth for five years fading to 2.5% over the next five, $2.77 EPS, $2.68 annual dividend. Updated weekly.
Fair-value estimates are model output for educational purposes only — not investment advice or a price target.
NWE Dividend Safety Score
Very Safe
SmarterDividends' proprietary score, backtested against which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years (0.78 AUC). It blends a validated cut-risk model (growth streak, cut history) with current payout, cash-flow and debt. Higher is safer · not investment advice.
Dividend Growth
Total dividends per share by year
Dividend History
Full NWE dividend history →| Ex-Date | Pay Date | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 | $0.6700 | regular |
| Jun 15, 2026 | Jun 30, 2026 | $0.6700 | regular |
| Mar 13, 2026 | Mar 31, 2026 | $0.6700 | regular |
| Dec 15, 2025 | Dec 31, 2025 | $0.6600 | regular |
| Sep 15, 2025 | Sep 30, 2025 | $0.6600 | regular |
| Jun 13, 2025 | Jun 30, 2025 | $0.6600 | regular |
| Mar 14, 2025 | Mar 31, 2025 | $0.6600 | regular |
| Dec 13, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 | $0.6500 | regular |
| Sep 13, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 | $0.6500 | regular |
| Jun 14, 2024 | Jun 28, 2024 | $0.6500 | regular |
| Mar 14, 2024 | Mar 29, 2024 | $0.6500 | regular |
| Dec 14, 2023 | Dec 29, 2023 | $0.6400 | regular |
| Sep 14, 2023 | Sep 29, 2023 | $0.6400 | regular |
| Jun 14, 2023 | Jun 30, 2023 | $0.6400 | regular |
Income Calculator
At $2.68 / yr per share
Similar Dividend Stocks
Compare NWE
Explore more
Lists and tools related to NWE
- Safest dividend stocks →
- Utilities dividend stocks →
- NWE dividend calculator →
- NWE DRIP calculator →
- NWE: last day to buy for the dividend →
- Embed NWE dividend data on your site →
- Dividend increases & cuts this week →
- Dividend calendar →
- Dividend calculator →
- Dividend income calculator →
- DRIP calculator →
- Latest dividend cuts →
- Dividend cuts this month (research note) →
- Dividend increases this month (research note) →
- Safety score track record →
- Dividend screener →
- Dividend history lookup →
- Guide: what is a good dividend yield? →
- Guide: how to value a dividend stock →