$NWE

Analysts made several calls: Jefferies reiterated Apple as underperform, citing mixed iPhone sales expectations. Barclays upgraded Tesla to overweight, citing M&A opportunities. Morgan Stanley upgraded Lockheed Martin to overweight. Piper Sandler reiterated Nvidia as overweight. Other notable moves include upgrades for Caci, Installed Building Products, Accelevation, and downgrades for Block.

Wells Fargo upgraded Northwestern Corp. (NASDAQ:NWE) to Overweight, raising its price target to $90. The stock is up 24% year-to-date. The upgrade follows a draft order reducing merger closing risk, expected to boost earnings per share by 8.5%. The merger is projected to improve shareholder economics, with higher EPS and dividends. Northwestern reported mixed Q2 2026 results, missing earnings estimates but beating revenue forecasts. Analysts remain bullish on the merger's benefits.

BLACK HILLS CORP /SD/ (BKH) filed an SEC Form 8-K — Regulation FD Disclosure. Subject to Receipt of Satisfactory Final Regulatory Approval and Completion of Proposed Merger, Black Hills Corp. to be Renamed Bright Horizon Energy Corporation with Ticker Symbol “HZN” • The Montana Public Service Commission is expected to consider the merger prior to November

Black Hills Corp. (BKH) and NorthWestern Energy (NWE) plan to merge, with the new entity named Bright Horizon Energy and trading under 'HZN' on the NYSE, pending regulatory approval. The merger, expected by Nov. 12, 2026, requires final approval from the Montana Public Service Commission. Both companies have already received shareholder and other regulatory approvals.

Jefferies initiated coverage on Northwestern Corp. (NWE) with a Buy rating and $85 price target, citing merger benefits and a 3.6% dividend yield. NWE's Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates, but revenue exceeded forecasts. The company maintained its full-year earnings outlook. Bank of America noted strong sector performance in utilities.

NorthWestern Energy Group's (NWE) shares rose 7% to a 52-week high, closing at $73.97. The increase, driven by high trading volume, marks a significant gain for the regulated utility serving Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Yellowstone National Park.

NorthWestern Energy (NWE) stock rose 8.4% after merger partner Black Hills Corp. agreed to a $1.8B deal with Google. The merger is pending regulatory approval. Barclays maintained an Overweight rating with a reduced price target of $70. NWE's gain is company-specific, as broader markets declined.

NorthWestern Energy and Montana cities (Missoula, Missoula County, Bozeman) filed a joint application for a Green Power Program with the Montana Public Service Commission. The program aims to support renewable energy development and offer voluntary participation for residential customers. If approved, it will seek proposals for new renewable energy resources in Montana. NorthWestern Energy serves ~850,300 customers across four states.

NorthWestern Energy customers in Montana report sudden spikes in summer power bills, with some bills tripling or quadrupling. The company attributes this to increased energy usage due to extreme heat and a 6% rate increase. Customers have contacted the Montana Public Service Commission for assistance, which is investigating the issue. According to the company, the rate increase is generally around 6% for customers.

Montana's Public Service Commission deemed NorthWestern's power plan deficient, lacking details on cost analysis and energy-saving programs. The company has 30 days to revise it. NorthWestern claims the plan meets state needs affordably, but critics argue it prioritizes data centers over renewables, potentially raising consumer costs.