NorthWestern Energy Group (NWE) vs Portland General Electric (POR)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 10, 2026.
Summary
NorthWestern Energy Group (NWE) has outperformed Portland General Electric (POR) over the past year, gaining 27.2% versus a gain of 3.7%. Over five years, NWE leads with a +30.6% price change compared with -6.1% for POR. Portland General Electric is the larger company by market cap ($5.34 billion vs $4.56 billion), about 1.2 times the size, while NorthWestern Energy Group is growing revenue faster (+6.4% vs +4.0%).
On valuation, Portland General Electric trades at a lower forward P/E (12.6x vs 18.7x for NorthWestern Energy Group). Portland General Electric offers the higher dividend yield (4.68% vs 3.59%). NorthWestern Energy Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 11.2% versus 8.6%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | NWE | POR |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $74.15 | $45.39 |
| Market cap | $4.56B | $5.34B |
| 1-day change | -0.64% | +0.09% |
| YTD return | +14.89% | -5.42% |
| 1-year return | +27.17% | +3.65% |
| 5-year return | +30.56% | -6.06% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.96 | 20.08 |
| Forward P/E | 18.73 | 12.65 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.75 | $2.26 |
| Dividend yield | 3.59% | 4.68% |
| Annual dividend | $2.66 | $2.13 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.61B | $3.58B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.38% | +3.95% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $181.09M | $306.00M |
| Operating margin | 20.23% | 15.52% |
| Net margin | 11.24% | 8.56% |
| 52-week high | $76.00 | $54.62 |
| 52-week low | $57.12 | $43.15 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -2.43% | -16.90% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | -1.89% | +14.76% |
| Average volume | 442.24K | 1.25M |
| Shares outstanding | 61.52M | 117.61M |
| Employees | 1,667 | 2,877 |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Power Generation | Electric Utilities: Central |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- NWE has outperformed POR by 23.5 percentage points over the past year.
- NorthWestern Energy Group trades at a higher earnings multiple (27.0x vs 20.1x trailing P/E).
- Portland General Electric offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.68% vs 3.59%).
About NorthWestern Energy Group
NWE stock →NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and diversified industrial customers. It generates, purchases, transmits, and distributes electricity; and produces, purchases, stores, transmits, and distributes natural gas, as well as owns municipal franchises to provide natural gas service in the communities.
Utilities · Power Generation · 1,667 employees
About Portland General Electric
POR stock →Portland General Electric Company, an integrated electric utility company, engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution, and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. It operates six thermal plants, four wind farms, and seven hydroelectric facilities.
Utilities · Electric Utilities: Central · 2,877 employees
NWE vs POR FAQ
Which is bigger, NorthWestern Energy Group or Portland General Electric?
Portland General Electric (POR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $5.34B compared with $4.56B for NorthWestern Energy Group (NWE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NWE or POR?
NWE returned +27.17% over the past 12 months, compared with +3.65% for POR (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NWE or POR?
POR has the lower trailing P/E at 20.1, versus 27.0 for NWE. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, NorthWestern Energy Group or Portland General Electric?
Portland General Electric has the higher yield at 4.68%, compared with 3.59% for NorthWestern Energy Group.
Are NorthWestern Energy Group and Portland General Electric in the same industry?
Both are in the Utilities sector, but in different industries: Power Generation for NorthWestern Energy Group and Electric Utilities: Central for Portland General Electric.