Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: NWNAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

NWN AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Northwest Natural Holding Company provides regulated natural gas and water utility services in the Pacific Northwest and Texas. In FY2025, revenue grew 11.8% to $1.29B, with net income reaching $113.3M. The company maintains an attractive forward dividend yield of 4.08% backed by 42 consecutive years of payments.

Market cap
$2.06B
Revenue (TTM)
$1.29B
P/E
16.3x
fwd 14.5x
1Y return
12.3%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$57.40
17.2% vs last close

Bull case

  • NWN trades at a forward P/E of 14.5x, offering a discount to the US-listed Utilities median of 17.2x.
  • The stock provides an income profile with a 4.08% dividend yield and a 42-year history of continuous payouts.
  • Consensus analyst targets project a 17.2% gain from the current share price to reach $57.40.

Bear case

  • Capital expenditures of $466.9M in FY2025 drove negative free cash flow of -$197.8M.
  • The balance sheet carries $2.70B in total debt with a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73 and a low current ratio of 0.77.
  • Shareholder dilution has occurred over time, with the share count expanding 35.5% over 5 years.

What Northwest Natural does

Northwest Natural Holding Company, operating primarily through Northwest Natural Gas Company, distributes regulated natural gas across Oregon and Southwest Washington through approximately 786,000 meters. The utility also operates the Mist gas storage facility with a 5.7 billion cubic foot capacity, leasing it to third-party marketers and utilities. Additionally, the company provides natural gas asset management services, operates an appliance retail center, and pursues investments in gas storage, water services, and non-regulated renewable natural gas. Through its water business, it serves roughly 80,000 people across 33,000 water and wastewater connections in the Pacific Northwest and Texas.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2020 and FY2025, NWN achieved a revenue compound annual growth rate of 10.8%. Annual revenue rose from $860.4M in FY2021 to $1.29B in FY2025, despite a 3.7% dip in FY2024 to $1.15B. FY2025 net income reached $113.3M with an EPS of $2.95, while operating margin expanded to 31.4%. Over the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, NWN generated $1.29B in revenue with an operating margin of 13.6% and a net profit margin of 9.7%. In the latest quarter, quarterly revenue climbed 3.1% year-over-year, accompanied by 6.9% quarterly earnings growth.

NWN income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, NWN held $24.2M in cash and short-term investments against $2.70B in total debt, leading to net debt of $2.68B. Shareholders' equity was $1.56B against total assets of $6.44B, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73 and a current ratio of 0.77. In FY2025, operating cash flow stood at $269.1M, which was outpaced by $466.9M in capital expenditures, resulting in free cash flow of -$197.8M. Financing actions included $47.4M in share issuance and $77.3M paid in dividends.

NWN balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

At $48.99 per share, NWN carries a market capitalization of $2.06B and an enterprise value of $4.67B. The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 16.3x and a forward P/E of 14.5x, below the median of its US-listed Utilities peers of 20.6x and 17.2x, respectively. Its EV/EBITDA multiple of 9.5x and price-to-sales ratio of 1.6x also sit below peer medians of 12.1x and 2.4x. Over the past year, the stock returned 12.3%, trailing the S&P 500 return of 16.8%, and its 5-year return of 28.8% lags the benchmark's 83.0%.

NWN key metrics →

NWN dividend

NWN offers an annualized forward dividend of $2.00 per share, delivering a dividend yield of 4.08%. The company has sustained a 42-year track record of consecutive dividend payments, supported by a payout ratio of 66.0%. Over the last five years, the dividend grew at an annualized rate of 0.5%. The last ex-dividend date was October 30, 2026.

NWN dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street coverage consists of 6 analysts, with 3 Strong Buy and 3 Hold recommendations. The mean price target is $57.40, representing 17.2% upside from the last close of $48.99. For the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus estimates project EPS of $3.08 on revenue of $1.38B. For the next fiscal year, 5 analysts expect revenue of $1.46B and EPS of $3.23. The company beat EPS expectations in 2 of the last 4 quarters, with next earnings scheduled for November 5, 2026.

NWN forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • Free cash flow has remained negative in each of the past five fiscal years, including -$197.8M in FY2025.
  • Liquidity is constrained by a current ratio of 0.77 and only $24.2M in cash reserves against $2.70B in total debt.
  • The company's quarterly revenue growth of 3.1% lags the peer median quarterly revenue growth of 4.2%.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this NWN AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: NWN income statement, NWN balance sheet, NWN key metrics, NWN analyst forecast, NWN chart. See the NWN stock overview for the latest quote and news.

NWN AI stock analysis FAQ

What is NWN's dividend yield and track record?

NWN pays a forward annual dividend of $2.00 per share, which equates to a 4.08% yield. The utility has paid dividends for 42 consecutive years with a current payout ratio of 66.0%.

How does NWN's valuation compare to its utility peers?

NWN trades at a trailing P/E of 16.3x and an EV/EBITDA of 9.5x. Both multiples represent discounts compared to the US-listed Utilities medians of 20.6x and 12.1x, respectively.

What are analysts forecasting for NWN's earnings?

Analysts forecast full-year FY2026 EPS of $3.08 on revenue of $1.38B, followed by FY2027 EPS of $3.23 on revenue of $1.46B.

How strong is NWN's balance sheet?

As of June 30, 2026, NWN held $24.2M in cash and short-term investments alongside $2.70B in debt, resulting in a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73 and a current ratio of 0.77.

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