Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Purchases 467,355 Shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU - Free Report) by 6.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,186,994 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 467,355 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 4.02% of MDU Resources Group worth $147,530,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MDU. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 19.4% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,505 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $63,000 after acquiring an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. grew its holdings in MDU Resources Group by 164.4% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,470 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 914 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC increased its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 99.6% during the fourth 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 in the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings 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 valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 1,138 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Riverwater Partners LLC grew its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Riverwater Partners LLC now owns 50,714 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $914,000 after buying an additional 1,151 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.44% of the company's stock.

MDU Resources Group Stock Performance

Shares of MDU stock traded down $0.03 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $17.15. The company had a trading volume of 1,163,796 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,487,270. The firm has a market cap of $3.50 billion, a PE ratio of 12.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $16.71 and a 200-day moving average price of $18.69. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a one year low of $13.23 and a one year high of $20.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.15.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 predict 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 announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 13th were given a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 13th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.03%. MDU Resources Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.68%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

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

Insider Activity at MDU Resources Group

In other MDU Resources Group news, Director Dennis W. Johnson purchased 30,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 10th. The shares were acquired at an average price 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 position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.94% of the stock is currently 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.