MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) Earns Hold Rating from Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday. The firm issued a hold rating on the utilities provider’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Siebert Williams Shank raised shares of MDU Resources Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $19.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $31.00 price objective (up from $30.00) on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research note on Monday, October 21st.

MDU Resources Group Trading Up 2.4 %

Shares of MDU Resources Group stock opened at $17.93 on Tuesday. MDU Resources Group has a fifty-two week low of $14.91 and a fifty-two week high of $30.52. The business’s fifty day moving average is $26.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $25.55. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The firm has a market cap of $3.66 billion, a PE ratio of 8.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 0.76.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) last released its earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $969.17 million. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 11.29% and a net margin of 9.25%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.29 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that MDU Resources Group will post 1.12 earnings per share for the current year.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 31st. Investors of record on Monday, October 21st were issued a $12.875 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 1st. MDU Resources Group’s payout ratio is 26.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MDU Resources Group

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MDU. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of MDU Resources Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of MDU Resources Group during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 158.9% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,196 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 734 shares during the period. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the third quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 23.9% in the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,142 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $54,000 after buying an additional 413 shares in the last quarter. 71.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MDU Resources Group Company Profile

MDU Resources Group, Inc engages in the regulated energy delivery, and construction materials and services businesses in the United States. It operates through four segments: Electric, Natural Gas Distribution, Pipeline, and Construction Services. The Electric segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and operates 3,400 miles of transmission lines, 4,800 miles of distribution lines, and 82 transmission and 298 distribution substations.