117,486 Shares in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) Acquired by ExodusPoint Capital Management LP

ExodusPoint Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 117,486 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $2,117,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Principal Securities Inc. raised its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 164.4% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,470 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 914 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 99.6% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 1,834 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 915 shares during the period. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $39,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 19.4% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,505 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lee Danner & Bass Inc. acquired a new position in shares of MDU Resources Group during the fourth quarter worth about $77,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.44% of the company’s stock.

MDU Resources Group Stock Down 0.8 %

NYSE:MDU opened at $15.57 on Wednesday. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $12.99 and a twelve month high of $20.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $16.84 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $19.86.

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

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 13th were issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 13th. MDU Resources Group’s payout ratio is currently 37.68%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other MDU Resources Group news, Director Dennis W. Johnson bought 30,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 10th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $16.64 per share, with a total value of $499,200.00. Following the acquisition, 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on MDU Resources Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $18.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of MDU Resources Group from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research 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 issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $21.00.

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.