Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN) Releases Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.17 EPS

Northwest Natural Gas (NYSE:NWN) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The utilities provider reported ($0.71) EPS 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 firm had revenue of $177.97 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $176.40 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted ($0.73) EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year.

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 Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of NYSE:NWN traded down $0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $51.73. 404,873 shares of the company were exchanged, 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 firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $48.77 and its 200 day simple moving average is $50.18. The firm has a market cap of $2.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.13 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.55.

Northwest Natural Gas Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Investors of record on Friday, October 30th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.9%. 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. Northwest Natural Gas’s dividend payout ratio is 66.67%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Northwest Natural Gas

In related news, Director David Anderson sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, October 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.71, for a total value of $73,065.00. Following the sale, the director owned 47,759 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,326,340.89. The trade was a 3.05% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders sold 4,500 shares of company stock valued at $221,400 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.55% of the company’s stock.

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 Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently issued reports on NWN. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Northwest Natural Gas from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday. Truist Financial assumed coverage on Northwest Natural Gas in a report on Tuesday, October 27th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $54.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho began coverage on shares of Northwest Natural Gas in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $51.00 price target on the stock. Huntington started coverage on Northwest Natural Gas in a research report on Monday, September 14th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $58.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of Northwest Natural Gas to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and four have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $55.43.

Northwest Natural Gas Company Profile

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.