MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results, Meets Expectations

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) released its earnings results on Thursday. The utilities provider reported $0.37 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.37, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $534.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $560.72 million. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 6.81% and a net margin of 9.02%.The company’s quarterly revenue was down .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.90 earnings per share. MDU Resources Group updated its FY 2026 guidance to 0.930-1.000 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from MDU Resources Group’s conference call:

• MDU reported 2025 earnings of $190.4 million ( $0.93 per share), in the middle of guidance, and issued 2026 EPS guidance of $0.93–$1.00 while maintaining a long-term EPS growth target of 6%–8% and a 60%–70% dividend payout ratio.
• The company deployed $792 million of capital in 2025, closed and placed in service a 49% interest in the Badger Wind Farm (driving a 16% year-over-year increase in utility rate base) and raised its 2026–2030 capex plan to $3.1 billion.
• Regulatory actions were mixed but constructive overall — North Dakota approved recovery for Badger Wind and Idaho and Washington rate increases took effect, while Montana denied interim rate relief (reconsideration requested), leaving some near-term recovery timing uncertainty.
• MDU has signed electric service agreements for 580 MW of data center load (phased online through 2027) using a capital‑light approach that the company says benefits earnings and reduces costs for other retail customers.
• The pipeline segment posted record earnings ($68.2 million) and is advancing projects — Line Section 32, Minot Industrial Pipeline support, and the Bakken East open season (through March 13) with a potential FERC 7C filing targeted in Q3 2026 and an eventual FID dependent on customer commitments and financing decisions.

MDU Resources Group Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of MDU traded up $0.29 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $20.45. 726,537 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,135,990. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.04 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.73. MDU Resources Group has a 52-week low of $15.04 and a 52-week high of $21.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.75. The firm has a market cap of $4.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.66, a P/E/G ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 0.75.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 11th were paid a dividend of $0.14 per share. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 11th. MDU Resources Group’s dividend payout ratio is 67.47%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently commented on MDU. Zacks Research raised shares of MDU Resources Group from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. TD Cowen initiated coverage on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research report on Thursday, October 16th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $20.00 price objective for the company. Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on MDU Resources Group to $22.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of MDU Resources Group in a report on Thursday, January 15th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research note on Monday, December 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $21.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MDU Resources Group

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in MDU Resources Group by 853.2% in the 3rd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 1,038,077 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $18,488,000 after purchasing an additional 929,169 shares in the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 317.2% in the 3rd quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC now owns 1,178,299 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $20,986,000 after buying an additional 895,853 shares in the last quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. increased its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 42.0% during the second quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 2,200,000 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $36,674,000 after purchasing an additional 651,136 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 64.0% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,000,349 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $16,676,000 after acquiring an additional 390,484 shares during the period. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its stake in MDU Resources Group by 190.0% during the 2nd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 519,549 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $8,661,000 after purchasing an additional 340,413 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.44% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting MDU Resources Group

Here are the key news stories impacting MDU Resources Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Company set a multi-year capital plan and accelerated the Badger Wind acquisition, targeting 6%–8% long‑term EPS growth — a strategic move to expand regulated earnings and support future growth. MDU Resources targets 6% to 8% long-term EPS growth
• Positive Sentiment: Utility rate base grew ~16% year‑over‑year (including the 49% ownership in Badger Wind), which supports regulated revenue stability and future rate‑based returns. MDU Resources Reports 2025 Year-End Results; Initiates 2026 Guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: Q4 EPS of $0.37 matched analyst estimates, indicating operating results largely in line with expectations; quarterly EPS comparisons are complicated by prior‑year items. MDU Resources (MDU) Matches Q4 Earnings Estimates
• Neutral Sentiment: Management released an investor presentation and held an earnings call/transcript that outline execution, capital allocation priorities, and assumptions behind guidance — useful for modeling and hearing management tone on timing of Badger integration. MDU Resources Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue for Q4 came in below street estimates ($534M vs. ~$561M consensus), a near‑term weakness that may pressure top‑line expectations. MDU Resources Q4 Earnings Meet Estimates, Revenues Decline Y/Y
• Negative Sentiment: FY‑2026 EPS guidance of $0.93–$1.00 was introduced below the consensus (~$1.01), which could temper near‑term upside and explains some investor caution. MDU Resources Reports 2025 Year-End Results; Initiates 2026 Guidance

About MDU Resources Group

MDU Resources Group, Inc is a diversified energy and services holding company headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. The company operates through two primary segments: Utilities and Construction Services and Pipelines & Midstream. Serving a broad geographic footprint across the upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest, MDU provides essential energy distribution and infrastructure services to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

The Utilities segment delivers electric and natural gas distribution services in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan and Washington.