MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) Shares Acquired by Westport Asset Management Inc.

Westport Asset Management Inc. lifted its holdings in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) by 200.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 15,000 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares during the quarter. Westport Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in MDU Resources Group were worth $411,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group during the third quarter worth $25,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in MDU Resources Group during the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in MDU Resources Group by 158.9% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,196 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 734 shares during the last quarter. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in shares of MDU Resources Group in the third quarter valued at about $40,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised 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 worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares during the last quarter. 71.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MDU Resources Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MDU remained flat at $20.13 during trading on Tuesday. 298,087 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,608,191. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.15. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $24.67 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $25.07. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $14.91 and a 52-week high of $30.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.76.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.01. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 11.24% and a net margin of 8.92%. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $969.17 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.29 EPS. MDU Resources Group’s quarterly revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts predict that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 1.13 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, December 12th will be paid a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 12th. MDU Resources Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 26.67%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently commented on MDU. Siebert Williams Shank upgraded MDU Resources Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $19.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Bank of America upgraded shares of MDU Resources Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $31.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. They set a “hold” rating for the company.

MDU Resources Group 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.