MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) Sees Strong Trading Volume – Should You Buy?

MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) shares saw strong trading volume on Monday . 1,163,308 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 22% from the previous session’s volume of 1,499,341 shares.The stock last traded at $15.39 and had previously closed at $15.10.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Siebert Williams Shank raised MDU Resources Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $19.00 target price on the stock in a report on Monday. Bank of America reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $31.00 target price (up from $30.00) on shares of MDU Resources Group in a report on Monday, October 21st. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on MDU Resources Group in a report on Monday, October 28th. They issued a “hold” rating on the stock.

MDU Resources Group Stock Performance

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’s 50-day moving average is $27.00 and its 200 day moving average is $25.82. The firm has a market cap of $3.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.55, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.76.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) last released 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. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 11.29% and a net margin of 9.25%. The firm had revenue of $1.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.06 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.29 EPS. The company’s revenue was down 4.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 1.57 earnings per share for the current year.

MDU Resources Group Dividend Announcement

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

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 8.1% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 7,491,990 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $188,049,000 after purchasing an additional 563,424 shares in the last quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC boosted its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 40.9% during the second quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 6,048,344 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $151,813,000 after buying an additional 1,756,530 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in MDU Resources Group by 30.7% in the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,158,224 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $104,371,000 after purchasing an additional 977,487 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in MDU Resources Group by 1.9% in the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,782,538 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $48,859,000 after purchasing an additional 33,982 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 36.6% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,745,980 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $43,824,000 after buying an additional 467,465 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.44% of the company’s stock.

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.