Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. Grows Stock Position in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)

Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. boosted its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU - Free Report) by 162.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 525,000 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 325,000 shares during the period. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. owned approximately 0.26% of MDU Resources Group worth $9,460,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in MDU Resources Group by 19.4% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,505 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $63,000 after buying an additional 570 shares during the period. Principal Securities Inc. raised its holdings in MDU Resources Group by 164.4% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,470 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 914 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC grew its position in 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 acquiring an additional 915 shares during the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 84.4% during the fourth quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 2,487 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 1,138 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Riverwater Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Riverwater Partners LLC now owns 50,714 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $914,000 after purchasing an additional 1,151 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.44% of the company's stock.

MDU Resources Group Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE MDU opened at $16.99 on Tuesday. 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 capitalization of $3.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.31, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $16.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $18.71. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $13.23 and a 52-week high of $20.39.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.03. MDU Resources Group had a return on equity of 10.20% and a net margin of 7.31%. Sell-side analysts expect that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 earnings per share for the current year.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 13th were issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 13th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.06%. MDU Resources Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 37.68%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of MDU Resources Group in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. They set a "hold" rating and a $18.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of MDU Resources Group from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $21.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Dennis W. Johnson bought 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $16.64 per share, for a total transaction of $499,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 180,166 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,997,962.24. This represents 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 the SEC website. 0.94% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.

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