Honestly, if you've been tracking the utility sector lately, you know it’s usually about as exciting as watching paint dry. But ottr stock price today is telling a different story. As of mid-January 2026, Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ: OTTR) is trading around $87.77, a slight dip of about 0.59% from yesterday's close, yet it's sitting remarkably close to its fresh 52-week high of $88.47.
You've got to wonder how a company headquartered in Fergus Falls, Minnesota—a place better known for its giant otter statue than high-finance drama—is outperforming so many of its peers.
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The Dividend Bump That Changed the Vibe
Just a few days ago, on January 8, the board decided to toss shareholders a bone. A big one. They hiked the quarterly dividend by 10%, bringing it to $0.5775 per share. That’s an annual payout of $2.31. For a company that has been paying dividends for 88 straight years, this isn't just a routine update; it’s a massive signal of confidence.
Markets usually sniff out desperation, but this felt like a flex.
The stock hit that 52-week high of $86.77 shortly after the announcement before pushing even higher toward the $88 mark this week. While the ottr stock price today shows some minor consolidation—down to $87.77—the momentum is hard to ignore.
What’s actually under the hood?
Otter Tail isn't just a power company. It’s a bit of a weird hybrid, like a centaur but for the stock market. You have the Electric Segment, which is the steady, regulated utility side. Then you have the Plastics Segment, specifically Vinyltech and Northern Pipe Products.
This plastics arm has been a goldmine lately.
In the most recent earnings report, the company actually beat expectations with an EPS of $1.86, even though that was technically down year-over-year. Why? Because the plastics business is normalizing. During the post-pandemic boom, pipe prices were insane. Now they’re coming back to earth, but Otter Tail is still squeezing out better margins than most analysts predicted.
Is the OTTR Stock Price Today Fairly Valued?
Analysts are currently split, and frankly, that's where things get interesting. The consensus price target is floating around $83.00. If you do the math, that means the ottr stock price today of $87.77 is actually trading at a premium. Some folks at Simply Wall St even suggest it might be about 3.1% overvalued based on cash flow projections.
But P/E ratios tell another story.
Otter Tail's P/E sits at roughly 13.2x. Compare that to the broader US Electric Utilities average, which often hovers closer to 19x or 20x. From that perspective, you could argue OTTR is a bargain hiding in plain sight.
The Infrastructure Play
One thing most people ignore is the capital investment plan. Otter Tail Power recently introduced a five-year, $1.9 billion spending plan. They’re targeting a 10% rate base CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate). They also expect to fund this entire growth spurt without issuing new equity until 2030.
That is rare.
Usually, utilities have to dilute shareholders to build new wind farms or transmission lines. Otter Tail is using its own cash. They even plan to retire $80 million in parent debt later this year.
Why the Stock is Moving This Afternoon
If you look at the intraday chart, the volume is hovering around 75,000 shares, which is a bit light compared to its 30-day average. The price action today seems to be a mix of "wait-and-see" and minor profit-taking after the recent run-up.
- Opening Price: $88.29
- Day Low: $87.15
- Current Support: $86.50
- Resistance Level: $88.50
There’s a clear floor forming around $86. If the ottr stock price today stays above that, the technicals remain bullish. The stock recently crossed its 200-day moving average of $78.54, which signaled a "bullish cross" that trend followers love to jump on.
Risks You Can’t Ignore
It’s not all sunshine and rising dividends. The manufacturing segment, which includes things like BTD Manufacturing, has been a bit soft. Demand for lawn and garden equipment or agricultural components has slumped as interest rates stayed high and dealers tightened their belts.
Also, the company's next earnings date is roughly February 17, 2026.
Analysts expect an EPS of $1.23 for that quarter. If they miss that mark because the plastics segment cools off faster than expected, that $87 price tag could vanish pretty quickly.
Actionable Strategy for Investors
If you’re already holding OTTR, the recent 10% dividend hike is a compelling reason to stay put. The yield is sitting around 2.6%, and the payout ratio is a comfortable 50%.
For those looking to buy in, wait for a pullback.
The stock is currently trading above the average analyst price target. A "buy the dip" entry near the $82-$84 range offers a much better margin of safety. Keep a close eye on the February earnings call; specifically, listen for updates on the Vinyltech expansion and whether the 155MW of new large load additions are actually hitting the grid on schedule.
Keep your eye on the $88.50 resistance. If it breaks through that with high volume, we might be looking at a run toward $95 before the spring thaw.
Check the ex-dividend date on February 13, 2026. You need to be a shareholder of record by then to catch that first juicy payout of the year.