MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) Shares Sold by Barclays PLC

Barclays PLC cut its position in shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU - Free Report) by 30.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 60,605 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 26,417 shares during the period. Barclays PLC's holdings in MDU Resources Group were worth $1,092,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of MDU. Friedenthal Financial acquired a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $778,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 42.2% during the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 115,907 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,089,000 after buying an additional 34,409 shares during the period. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 21.3% during the fourth quarter. Cascade Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 81,626 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,471,000 after buying an additional 14,360 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 32.3% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 855,493 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $23,449,000 after buying an additional 209,042 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Advisors Preferred LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the 4th quarter valued at $5,691,000. 71.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at MDU Resources Group

In related news, Director Dennis W. Johnson purchased 30,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 10th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $16.64 per share, for a total transaction of $499,200.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly 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 purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.94% of the company's stock.

MDU Resources Group Stock Up 0.5 %

NYSE:MDU traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $17.63. The stock had a trading volume of 2,158,145 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,467,576. 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, Inc. has a twelve month low of $13.23 and a twelve month high of $20.39. The company has a market capitalization of $3.60 billion, a PE ratio of 12.77, a PEG ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.72. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $16.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $18.29.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU - Get Free Report) last issued 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%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 EPS for the current year.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed 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 was Thursday, March 13th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.95%. MDU Resources Group's payout ratio is currently 37.68%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MDU has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of MDU Resources Group from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 20th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of MDU Resources Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $18.00 price target for the company. One equities 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 data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently 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.