MDU Resources Group Inc. (NYSE:MDU) reported third-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 55 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 56 cents by 1.79%. Operating earnings were 22.2% higher than the year-ago quarter’s level.
Total Revenues
Total revenues were $1,280.8 million, up 0.65% from $1,272.5 million in the year-ago quarter.
Highlights of the Release
In the quarter under review, operating expenses amounted to $1,140.8 million, up 2.1% from the prior-year quarter’s figure of $1,117.2 million.
Operating income was $140 million, down 9.8% year over year.
The company incurred interest expense of $21 million, up from $20.9 million in the prior-year quarter.
MDU Resources had a combined backlog of $1.48 billion of work in the construction services and construction materials businesses at the end of the third quarter compared with $1.19 billion in the year-ago quarter.
Company’s operating revenues from the electric, natural gas distribution and regulated pipeline as well as midstream segments fell 3% to $200.6 million. However, revenues from the non-regulated pipeline and midstream, construction materials and contracting, construction services and other segments increased 1.3% to $1,080.2 million.
The company completed the purchase of an expansion to Thunder Spirit Wind farm in southwestern North Dakota.
Financial Highlights
Total debt was $1,915 million as of Sep 30, 2018, up from $1,741 million as of Jun 30, 2017.
The company’s net cash flow from operating activities in the first nine months of 2018 was $317.4 million, up from $271.9 million in the year-ago period.
Guidance
MDU Resources reaffirmed 2018 guidance for earnings per share in the range of $1.25-$1.45.
The company plans to invest $786 million toward capital projects and acquisitions in 2018.
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.
Other Utility Releases
ONEOK Inc (NYSE:OKE) posted third-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 75 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 71 cents by 5.63%.
DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE) reported third-quarter 2018 operating EPS of $2.13, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.74 by 22.4%.
FirstEnergy Corporation (NYSE:FE) reported third-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 80 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 73 cents by 9.59%.
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