DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main Makes New Investment in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)

DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 126,851 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,286,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new position in MDU Resources Group during the fourth quarter worth about $3,361,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 24.1% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 64,163 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,156,000 after buying an additional 12,451 shares during the last quarter. Centiva Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,593,000. Brevan Howard Capital Management LP acquired a new position in MDU Resources Group in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $282,000. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in MDU Resources Group by 4.2% in the fourth quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 462,988 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $8,343,000 after acquiring an additional 18,754 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.44% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded MDU Resources Group from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $21.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Dennis W. Johnson acquired 30,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $16.64 per share, with a total value of $499,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 180,166 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,997,962.24. The trade was a 19.98 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.94% of the company’s stock.

MDU Resources Group Stock Performance

Shares of MDU stock opened at $17.36 on Friday. 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 firm has a market cap of $3.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.72. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $16.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $18.05. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a one year low of $13.23 and a one year high of $20.39.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.04. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 10.20% and a net margin of 7.31%. The company had revenue of $674.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $653.13 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.52 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 EPS for the current year.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 13th were given a $0.13 dividend. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.00%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 13th. MDU Resources Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 37.68%.

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.