MDU Resources Group Inc. (NYSE:MDU) delivered first-quarter 2019 operating earnings of 21 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 24 cents by 12.5%. Operating earnings declined by a penny from the year-ago quarter’s level. The decline was caused by a larger loss incurred in the construction materials business.
Total Revenues
Total revenues in the first quarter were $1,091.2 million, up 11.7% from $976.3 million in the year-ago quarter.
Operating revenues in the electric, natural gas distribution and regulated pipeline as well as the midstream segments increased 3.5% to $439.6 million. Revenues in the non-regulated pipeline and midstream, construction materials and contracting, construction services as well as other segments increased 18% to $651.6 million.
Highlights of the Release
In the first quarter, operating expenses amounted to $1,027 million, up 13.2% from the prior-year quarter’s figure of $906.9 million.
Operating income was $64.2 million, down 7.5% year over year.
The company incurred interest expenses of $23.4 million, up from $20.5 million in the prior-year quarter.
As of Mar 31, 2019, the construction services business had backlog of $1.02 billion, up 48% from $675 million as of Mar 31, 2018.
As of Mar 31, 2019, the construction materials business had backlog of $943 million, up 36.3% from $692 million as of Mar 31, 2018.
Financial Highlights
Total debt amounted to $2,268 million as of Mar 31, 2019, up from $1,780 million as of Mar 31, 2018.
The company’s net cash flow from operating activities in the first quarter was $1.5 million compared with $105.8 million in the prior-year quarter.
Guidance
MDU Resources raised the lower end of previously provided guidance. The company currently expects 2019 earnings per share in the range of $1.40-$1.55, whose mid-point of $1.47 is below the current Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.49.
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.
Utility Releases
ONE Gas, Inc (NYSE:OGS) recorded first-quarter 2019 operating earnings of $1.76 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.73 by 1.7%.
ONEOK Inc (NYSE:OKE) delivered first-quarter 2019 operating earnings of 81 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents by 10.96%.
NextEra Energy, Inc (NYSE:NEE) generated first-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of $2.20 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.01 by 9.4%.
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NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report
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