MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) Reaches New 1-Year High – Still a Buy?

MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)’s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $28.98 and last traded at $28.98, with a volume of 126 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $28.58.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on MDU Resources Group in a research report on Saturday. They issued a “hold” rating for the company.

MDU Resources Group Stock Up 1.5 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 1.15. The firm has a market cap of $5.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.77. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $25.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $25.46.

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, beating the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.11. MDU Resources Group had a net margin of 9.25% and a return on equity of 11.29%. The business had revenue of $1.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.06 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.29 EPS. MDU Resources Group’s revenue was down 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 1.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MDU Resources Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 12th were given a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 12th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.79%. This is a boost from MDU Resources Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. MDU Resources Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 22.22%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in MDU Resources Group in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 23.9% during the second quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,142 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 413 shares in the last quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 22.2% during the first quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 4,404 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $111,000 after buying an additional 800 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. purchased a new stake in MDU Resources Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $163,000. Finally, Point72 DIFC Ltd bought a new stake in MDU Resources Group in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $181,000. 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.