MDU Resources Group Inc. (NYSE:D) reported fourth-quarter 2017 operating earnings of 39 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 34 cents by 14.7%.
Operating earnings improved 18.2% from 33 cents in the year-ago quarter. The company’s construction businesses and regulated energy delivery businesses benefited from favorable weather, which boosted earnings.
Including income tax benefit of 20 cents per share, MDU Resources reported earnings of 59 cents.
Total Revenues
Total revenues in the reported quarter were $1,165.2 million, up 14.6% from $1,016.1 million in the year-ago quarter.
DU Resources Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
MDU Resources Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | MDU Resources Group, Inc. Quote
Highlights of the Release
In the quarter under review, operating expenses amounted to $1,039.7 million, up 14.9 % from $904.6 million in the prior-year quarter.
Operating income was $125.5 million, up 12.5%.
The company incurred interest expense of $20.8 million, up 1.46% from $20.5 million in fourth-quarter 2016.
Financial Highlights
Total debt was $1,715 million as of Dec 31, 2017, down from $1,790 million as of Dec 31, 2016.
In 2017, the company’s net cash flow from operating activities was $448 million, down from $462.2 million in 2016.
Guidance
MDU Resources issued 2018 guidance for earnings per share in the range of $1.25-$1.45.
The company plans to invest $2,331 million in the 2018-2022 period to strengthen regulated energy delivery as well as construction materials and services business lines.
Peer Releases
NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) reported fourth-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings of $1.25 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.31 by 4.6%.
Dominion Energy (NYSE:D) reported fourth-quarter 2017 operating earnings of 91 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 88 cents by 3.4%.
Exelon (NYSE:EXC) reported fourth-quarter 2017 operating earnings of 55 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents by 11.3%.
Zacks Rank
MDU Resources carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU): Free Stock Analysis Report
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