Advisors Preferred LLC Acquires Shares of 317,251 MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU)

Advisors Preferred LLC acquired a new position in MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 317,251 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $5,691,000. MDU Resources Group comprises 0.9% of Advisors Preferred LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 27th biggest holding. Advisors Preferred LLC owned 0.16% of MDU Resources Group at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MDU. V Square Quantitative Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group by 158.9% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,196 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 734 shares during the last quarter. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the fourth quarter valued at about $39,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in MDU Resources Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $40,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its position in MDU Resources Group by 23.9% during the 2nd quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 2,142 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares in the last quarter. 71.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms recently weighed in on MDU. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on MDU Resources Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. They set a "hold" rating and a $18.00 target price on the stock. Siebert Williams Shank upgraded MDU Resources Group from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $19.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, November 4th. StockNews.com lowered MDU Resources Group from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded MDU Resources Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $31.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Tuesday, November 5th. 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 company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $21.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at MDU Resources Group

In other MDU Resources Group news, Director Dennis W. Johnson bought 30,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $16.64 per share, for a total transaction of $499,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 180,166 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,997,962.24. The trade was a 19.98 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

MDU Resources Group Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:MDU traded down $0.14 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $16.85. 1,494,120 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,113,226. The firm has a market cap of $3.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.80. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $18.13 and a 200 day simple moving average of $22.34. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $14.91 and a 1-year high of $30.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. Analysts anticipate that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 0.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MDU Resources Group Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 12th were issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 12th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.09%. MDU Resources Group's payout ratio is presently 37.68%.

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.