Hennessy Advisors Inc. Sells 177,600 Shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)

Hennessy Advisors Inc. lessened its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU - Free Report) by 8.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,977,407 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 177,600 shares during the quarter. MDU Resources Group accounts for 1.1% of Hennessy Advisors Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Hennessy Advisors Inc. owned 0.97% of MDU Resources Group worth $33,438,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System raised its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 74.5% during the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 98,600 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,777,000 after purchasing an additional 42,100 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 18.6% during the fourth quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,114,019 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $37,926,000 after acquiring an additional 331,481 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its holdings 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 worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 915 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System raised its holdings in MDU Resources Group by 15.4% during the fourth quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 261,622 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $4,714,000 after buying an additional 34,851 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. grew its position in shares of MDU Resources Group by 27.7% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,747 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $68,000 after purchasing an additional 812 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.44% of the company's stock.

MDU Resources Group Stock Down 1.9%

Shares of MDU Resources Group stock traded down $0.32 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $16.33. 1,183,138 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,412,081. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $13.23 and a fifty-two week high of $20.39. The stock has a market cap of $3.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.83, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a 50 day moving average of $16.94 and a two-hundred day moving average of $17.39. 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 (NYSE:MDU - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $674.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $653.13 million. MDU Resources Group had a net margin of 7.31% and a return on equity of 10.20%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.52 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.18%. MDU Resources Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.31%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Wall Street Zen raised MDU Resources Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, May 12th.

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.