NorthWestern Energy Group (NWE) vs UNITIL (UTL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
NorthWestern Energy Group (NWE) has outperformed UNITIL (UTL) over the past year, gaining 26.5% versus a gain of 9.0%. Over five years, NWE leads with a +30.6% price change compared with +19.3% for UTL. NorthWestern Energy Group is the larger company by market cap ($4.59 billion vs $955.2 million), about 4.8 times the size.
On valuation, UNITIL trades at a lower forward P/E (14.9x vs 18.8x for NorthWestern Energy Group). NorthWestern Energy Group offers the higher dividend yield (3.56% vs 3.53%).
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 | UTL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $74.63 | $52.38 |
| Market cap | $4.59B | $955.24M |
| 1-day change | +0.89% | +1.18% |
| YTD return | +15.63% | +8.13% |
| 1-year return | +26.49% | +9.03% |
| 5-year return | +30.56% | +19.26% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.94 | 16.52 |
| Forward P/E | 18.85 | 14.92 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.77 | $3.17 |
| Dividend yield | 3.56% | 3.53% |
| Annual dividend | $2.66 | $1.85 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $1.61B | — |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.38% | — |
| Net income (latest FY) | $181.09M | — |
| Operating margin | 20.23% | — |
| Net margin | 11.24% | — |
| 52-week high | $76.00 | $57.26 |
| 52-week low | $57.12 | $46.91 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -1.80% | -8.52% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | -2.52% | +3.09% |
| Average volume | 441.94K | 126.87K |
| Shares outstanding | 61.52M | 18.24M |
| Employees | 1,667 | 614 |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Utilities - Regulated Electric | Power Generation |
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
- NorthWestern Energy Group is about 4.8 times larger than UNITIL by market value ($4.59B vs $955.24M).
- NWE has outperformed UTL by 17.5 percentage points over the past year.
- NorthWestern Energy Group trades at a higher earnings multiple (26.9x vs 16.5x trailing P/E).
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 · Utilities - Regulated Electric · 1,667 employees
About UNITIL
UTL stock →Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas. It operates through two segments, Utility Electric Operations and Utility Gas Operations.
Utilities · Power Generation · 614 employees
NWE vs UTL FAQ
Which is bigger, NorthWestern Energy Group or UNITIL?
NorthWestern Energy Group (NWE) is larger, with a market capitalization of $4.59B compared with $955.24M for UNITIL (UTL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, NWE or UTL?
NWE returned +26.49% over the past 12 months, compared with +9.03% for UTL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, NWE or UTL?
UTL has the lower trailing P/E at 16.5, versus 26.9 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 UNITIL?
NorthWestern Energy Group has the higher yield at 3.56%, compared with 3.53% for UNITIL.
Are NorthWestern Energy Group and UNITIL in the same industry?
Both are in the Utilities sector, but in different industries: Utilities - Regulated Electric for NorthWestern Energy Group and Power Generation for UNITIL.