NWE
Northwestern Energy Group Inc
Diversified Utilities
Market Cap$4.45B
5Y Perf.+20.4%
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Stock Comparison
NWE vs POR
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
POR
Portland General Electric Company
Regulated Electric
Market Cap$5.63B
5Y Perf.+3.2%
NWE vs POR — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | NWE | POR |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Diversified Utilities | Regulated Electric |
| Market Cap | $4.45B | $5.63B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.64B | $3.48B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $168M | $251M |
| Gross Margin | 61.9% | 48.0% |
| Operating Margin | 19.2% | 15.2% |
| Forward P/E | 19.3x | 14.3x |
| Total Debt | $3.29B | $5.53B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $9M | $76M |
NWE vs POR — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
NWE
POR
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Energy… (NWE) | 100 | 120.4 | +20.4% |
| Portland General El… (POR) | 100 | 103.2 | +3.2% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: NWE vs POR
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: NWE leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and profitability and margin quality. Portland General Electric Company is the stronger pick specifically for valuation and capital efficiency and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
NWE
Northwestern Energy Group Inc
The Growth Play
NWE carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 6.4%, EPS growth -19.5%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.9%
- 65.7% 10Y total return vs POR's 57.6%
- 6.4% revenue growth vs POR's -1.9%
Best for: growth exposure and long-term compounding
POR
Portland General Electric Company
The Income Pick
POR is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 11 yrs, beta 0.09, yield 4.2%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.09, current ratio 1.08x
- Beta 0.09, yield 4.2%, current ratio 1.08x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | NWE | 6.4% revenue growth vs POR's -1.9% |
| Value | POR | Lower P/E (14.3x vs 19.3x) |
| Quality / Margins | NWE | 10.2% margin vs POR's 7.2% |
| Stability / Safety | POR | Beta 0.09 vs NWE's 0.24 |
| Dividends | POR | 4.2% yield, 11-year raise streak, vs NWE's 3.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | NWE | +30.2% vs POR's +19.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | NWE | 2.0% ROA vs POR's 1.9%, ROIC 4.0% vs 4.5% |
NWE vs POR — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
NWE vs POR — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLNWELAGGINGPOR
PORPortland General Elec…
1leads
NWENorthwestern Energy G…
2leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PORMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
NWE5/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
POR5/5
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
Tied
—
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
NWE6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
NWE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
POR is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.5B annually — 2.1x NWE's $1.6B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 10.2% (NWE) to 7.2% (POR). On growth, NWE holds the edge at +6.6% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | NWENorthwestern Ener… | PORPortland General … |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.6B | $3.5B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $569M | $1.1B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $168M | $251M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$148M | $66M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +61.9% | +48.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.2% | +15.2% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +10.2% | +7.2% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -9.0% | +1.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.6% | -5.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -17.6% | -54.9% |
NWE leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
POR leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 17.6x trailing earnings, POR trades at a 28% valuation discount to NWE's 24.6x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, POR's 9.8x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than NWE's 13.4x.
| Metric | NWENorthwestern Ener… | PORPortland General … |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.5B | $5.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $7.7B | $11.1B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 24.63x | 17.62x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.30x | 14.25x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 1.78x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.44x | 9.80x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 2.77x | 1.67x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.54x | 1.30x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
POR leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — NWE and POR each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
POR delivers a 6.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $6 in annual profit, vs $6 for NWE. NWE carries lower financial leverage with a 1.14x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to POR's 1.34x.
| Metric | NWENorthwestern Ener… | PORPortland General … |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +5.8% | +6.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.0% | +1.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.0% | +4.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.4% | +4.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.14x | 1.34x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $3.3B | $5.5B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $9M | $76M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $3.3B | $5.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.25x | 2.38x |
Evenly matched — NWE and POR each lead in 4 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
NWE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in NWE five years ago would be worth $12,586 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,577 for POR. Over the past 12 months, NWE leads with a +30.2% total return vs POR's +19.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors NWE at 10.4% vs POR's 2.2% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | NWENorthwestern Ener… | PORPortland General … |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.9% | +1.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +30.2% | +19.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +34.7% | +6.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.9% | +15.8% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +65.7% | +57.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +10.4% | +2.2% |
NWE leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — NWE and POR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
POR is the less volatile stock with a 0.09 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than NWE's 0.24 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. NWE currently trades 96.3% from its 52-week high vs POR's 89.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | NWENorthwestern Ener… | PORPortland General … |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.24x | 0.09x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $75.18 | $54.62 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $50.46 | $39.55 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +96.3% | +89.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.8 | 33.5 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 462K | 1.2M |
Evenly matched — NWE and POR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — NWE and POR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates NWE as "Hold" and POR as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 7.6% upside for POR (target: $52) vs -8.4% for NWE (target: $66). For income investors, POR offers the higher dividend yield at 4.18% vs NWE's 3.63%.
| Metric | NWENorthwestern Ener… | PORPortland General … |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $66.33 | $52.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 18 | 23 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.6% | +4.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 20 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.63 | $2.03 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — NWE and POR each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
NWE leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). POR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 3 tied.
Best OverallNorthwestern Energy Group I… (NWE)Leads 2 of 6 categories
Loading custom metrics...
NWE vs POR: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is NWE or POR a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is the stronger pick with 6.
4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Portland General Electric Company (POR). Portland General Electric Company (POR) offers the better valuation at 17. 6x trailing P/E (14. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) a "Hold" — based on 18 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — NWE or POR?
On trailing P/E, Portland General Electric Company (POR) is the cheapest at 17.
6x versus Northwestern Energy Group Inc at 24. 6x. On forward P/E, Portland General Electric Company is actually cheaper at 14. 3x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — NWE or POR?
Over the past 5 years, Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) delivered a total return of +25.
9%, compared to +15. 8% for Portland General Electric Company (POR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: NWE returned +65. 7% versus POR's +57. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — NWE or POR?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Portland General Electric Company (POR) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
09β versus Northwestern Energy Group Inc's 0. 24β — meaning NWE is approximately 161% more volatile than POR relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 114% versus 134% for Portland General Electric Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — NWE or POR?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is pulling ahead at 6.
4% versus -1. 9% for Portland General Electric Company (POR). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Portland General Electric Company grew EPS -8. 3% year-over-year, compared to -19. 5% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc. Over a 3-year CAGR, POR leads at 8. 4% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — NWE or POR?
Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE) is the more profitable company, earning 11.
2% net margin versus 9. 1% for Portland General Electric Company — meaning it keeps 11. 2% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: NWE leads at 20. 2% versus 16. 4% for POR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — NWE leads at 82. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is NWE or POR more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Portland General Electric Company (POR) trades at 14.
3x forward P/E versus 19. 3x for Northwestern Energy Group Inc — 5. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for POR: 7. 6% to $52. 33.
08Which pays a better dividend — NWE or POR?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Portland General Electric Company (POR) offers the highest yield at 4. 2%, versus 3. 6% for Northwestern Energy Group Inc (NWE).
09Is NWE or POR better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Portland General Electric Company (POR) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
09), 4. 2% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (POR: +57. 6%, NWE: +65. 7%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between NWE and POR?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: NWE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; POR is a small-cap deep-value stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(NWE: 6.6% · POR: -5.3%)Net Margin>
%
(NWE: 10.2% · POR: 7.2%)P/E Ratio<
x
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