StockNews.com Begins Coverage on MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU)

Research analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) in a report released on Sunday. The firm set a “hold” rating on the utilities provider’s stock.

MDU Resources Group Price Performance

NYSE:MDU opened at $30.28 on Friday. MDU Resources Group has a one year low of $18.04 and a one year high of $30.52. The stock has a market cap of $6.17 billion, a PE ratio of 12.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.22. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $26.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $25.60.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $1.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.06 billion. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 11.29% and a net margin of 9.25%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was down 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.29 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that MDU Resources Group will post 1.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of MDU Resources Group

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new position in MDU Resources Group in the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of MDU Resources Group in the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 23.9% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,142 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares during the period. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 238.1% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,935 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 2,067 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new stake in MDU Resources Group in the 2nd quarter valued at about $163,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.44% of the company’s stock.

About MDU Resources Group

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.