Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN) posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The utilities provider reported ($0.71) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.88) by $0.17, Zacks reports. Northwest Natural Gas had a return on equity of 8.33% and a net margin of 9.75%. The business had revenue of $177.97 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $176.40 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.73) EPS. The business’s revenue was up 8.0% on a year-over-year basis.

Here are the key takeaways from Northwest Natural Gas’ conference call:

• Northwest Natural raised its 2026 EPS guidance to $3.10–$3.20, citing stronger-than-expected year-to-date results, cost discipline and constructive regulatory outcomes. Year-to-date EPS rose 6.6% to $1.62.
• Regulatory progress included an $8.6 million revenue increase for SiEnergy and a $13 million Oregon rate increase, with new Oregon rates effective October 31. The company said Texas GRIP filings could begin in 2027, helping accelerate recovery of infrastructure investment.
• Growth remains strong, though housing activity has moderated: SiEnergy customer growth was about 13% over the past 12 months, below the company’s 15%–20% expectation at the start of the year, while its development backlog reached nearly 265,000 lots. Water customer growth was just over 2%, and management maintained its long-term 2%–3% target.
• The $300 million MX3 storage expansion is fully contracted, and management still expects notice to proceed by the end of 2027 despite an ongoing appeal of its permit. If advanced, the project could lift the company’s long-term earnings growth target from 4%–6% to 5%–7%.
• The company raised its annual dividend by $0.03 to $2 per share, its largest increase since 2012, extending its dividend-growth record to 71 years. Management said the payout ratio is within its 55%–65% long-term target range.

Northwest Natural Gas Stock Performance

Shares of NWN traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $51.73. 404,873 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 264,320. Northwest Natural Gas has a 1 year low of $45.69 and a 1 year high of $55.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.77. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $48.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.18. The stock has a market cap of $2.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.13 and a beta of 0.41.

Northwest Natural Gas Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 30th. This is an increase from Northwest Natural Gas’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.4925. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.9%. Northwest Natural Gas’s dividend payout ratio is currently 66.67%.

Northwest Natural Gas News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Northwest Natural Gas this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Northwest Natural raised its 2026 EPS guidance to $3.10–$3.20, citing a SiEnergy rate settlement and cost controls. The higher outlook may support investor confidence in earnings growth. Article: Northwest Natural raises 2026 EPS guidance
• Positive Sentiment: Third-quarter results also exceeded estimates: the net loss was $0.71 per share versus analysts’ expected $0.88 loss, while revenue of $177.97 million topped forecasts and grew 8% year over year. Article: Northwest Natural Q3 results
• Negative Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target from $49 to $50 but maintained an “equal weight” rating. The new target is still below the prevailing share price, suggesting limited upside in the firm’s view and potentially weighing on sentiment. Wells Fargo ratings

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently commented on NWN. Huntington started coverage on Northwest Natural Gas in a research note on Monday, September 14th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $58.00 target price for the company. BTIG Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $59.00 price target on shares of Northwest Natural Gas in a research note on Friday. Mizuho started coverage on Northwest Natural Gas in a research note on Thursday, October 22nd. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $51.00 price target on the stock. Weiss Ratings downgraded Northwest Natural Gas from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Friday, October 16th. Finally, Truist Financial began coverage on Northwest Natural Gas in a research report on Tuesday, October 27th. They set a “hold” rating and a $54.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $55.43.

Insider Activity at Northwest Natural Gas

In other Northwest Natural Gas news, Director David Anderson sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.71, for a total value of $73,065.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 47,759 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,326,340.89. This trade represents a 3.05% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders sold a total of 4,500 shares of company stock valued at $221,400 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.55% of the company’s stock.

About Northwest Natural Gas

Northwest Natural Gas Company, operating as NW Natural and a subsidiary of Northwest Natural Holding Company, is an energy and utility company headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Its principal business is the distribution of natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

NW Natural serves communities primarily in Oregon and southwest Washington through a regulated natural gas distribution system. The company also provides related services, including natural gas storage and programs focused on renewable natural gas and other lower-carbon energy solutions.

The company traces its history to 1859 and has expanded beyond its traditional natural gas operations through investments in water and wastewater utilities.