MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) Shares Bought by Dimensional Fund Advisors LP

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU - Free Report) by 6.1% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. 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 approximately 4.02% of MDU Resources Group worth $147,530,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in MDU Resources Group by 132.0% during the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 6,999,856 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $126,137,000 after acquiring an additional 3,982,783 shares during the period. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group by 43.7% in the fourth quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 200,099 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,603,000 after purchasing an additional 60,864 shares in the last quarter. MSH Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in MDU Resources Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $308,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in MDU Resources Group by 13.1% in the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 62,072 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,119,000 after buying an additional 7,207 shares during the period. Finally, EAM Global Investors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group during the fourth quarter worth $4,640,000. 71.44% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

MDU Resources Group Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of MDU Resources Group stock traded up $0.12 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $16.99. The company had a trading volume of 1,162,367 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,494,882. The company's 50-day moving average is $16.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $18.80. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $13.23 and a twelve month high of $20.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 1.07. The company has a market cap of $3.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 0.68.

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 0.94 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. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 13th were paid 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 dividend yield of 3.06%. MDU Resources Group's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.68%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Dennis W. Johnson bought 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, with a total value of $499,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.94% of the company's stock.

About MDU Resources Group

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.