LPL Financial LLC Acquires 16,547 Shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)

LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU - Free Report) by 12.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 154,670 shares of the utilities provider's stock after acquiring an additional 16,547 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC owned 0.08% of MDU Resources Group worth $2,787,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Principal Securities Inc. raised its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 164.4% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,470 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 914 shares in the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its stake in MDU Resources Group by 99.6% in the fourth 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. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new stake in MDU Resources Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,000. Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 19.4% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 3,505 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $63,000 after purchasing an additional 570 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lee Danner & Bass Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the 4th quarter valued at $77,000. 71.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MDU Resources Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MDU traded up $0.13 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $16.88. 61,691 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,959,238. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.45 billion, a PE ratio of 12.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $16.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $19.43. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $14.91 and a 12 month high of $30.52. 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 posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.03. MDU Resources Group had a net margin of 7.31% and a return on equity of 10.20%. Equities research analysts expect 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, March 13th were issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 13th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.08%. MDU Resources Group's dividend payout ratio is 37.68%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Dennis W. Johnson purchased 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $16.64 per share, with a total value 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 trade represents a 19.98 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on MDU shares. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on MDU Resources Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. They set a "hold" rating and a $18.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com lowered MDU Resources Group from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Thursday, February 20th. One 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 company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $21.00.

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.