Two Sigma Advisers LP Sells 420,500 Shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)

Two Sigma Advisers LP decreased its position in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU - Free Report) by 56.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 324,900 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 420,500 shares during the period. Two Sigma Advisers LP owned about 0.16% of MDU Resources Group worth $5,855,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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

MDU Resources Group Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of MDU traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $17.12. 538,462 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,431,318. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.50 billion, a PE ratio of 12.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.72. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $13.23 and a 1-year high of $20.39. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The business has a fifty day moving average of $16.87 and a 200-day moving average of $17.56.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.40 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.36 by $0.04. MDU Resources Group had a net margin of 7.31% and a return on equity of 10.20%. The business had revenue of $674.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $653.13 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.52 earnings per share. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.94 EPS for the current year.

MDU Resources Group Announces Dividend

The business 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.04%. MDU Resources Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.31%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

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.