Moors & Cabot Inc. Raises Stock Holdings in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)

Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) by 5.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 43,362 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,164 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc.’s holdings in MDU Resources Group were worth $781,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 158.9% during the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,196 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 734 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. grew its stake in MDU Resources Group by 164.4% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,470 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 914 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its holdings in MDU Resources Group by 99.6% during the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 1,834 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 915 shares during the period. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new stake in MDU Resources Group during the 4th quarter valued at $39,000. Finally, Millburn Ridgefield Corp purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the 3rd quarter worth $82,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.44% of the company’s stock.

Insider Transactions at MDU Resources Group

In other MDU Resources Group news, Director Dennis W. Johnson bought 30,000 shares of MDU Resources Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 10th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $16.64 per share, with a total value of $499,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 180,166 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,997,962.24. This represents a 19.98 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently commented on MDU. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on MDU Resources Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. They set a “hold” rating and a $18.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of MDU Resources Group from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Thursday, February 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, MDU Resources Group presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $21.00.

MDU Resources Group Trading Up 2.7 %

MDU opened at $16.89 on Friday. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $12.30 and a 12 month high of $20.39. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $17.34 and a 200-day moving average price of $21.03. The firm has a market cap of $3.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.24, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.03. MDU Resources Group had a net margin of 7.31% and a return on equity of 10.20%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MDU Resources Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 13th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.08%. MDU Resources Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 37.68%.

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.