MDU Resources Group Inc. MDU reported first-quarter 2026 operating earnings per share (EPS) of 39 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 42 cents by 7.14%. The bottom line decreased 25% year over year.
Total Revenues of MDU
Operating revenues of $606 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $702 billion by around 13.68%. The top line decreased 12.76% from $ 674.8 million recorded in the year-ago quarter.
MDU Resources Group, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
MDU Resources Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | MDU Resources Group, Inc. Quote
Highlights of MDU’s Earnings Release
Total operating expenses were nearly $490.3 million, down 14.3% from the year-ago quarter’s $562 million. The decline was primarily due to lower purchased natural gas sales and a decrease in taxes other than income taxes.
Operating income totaled $115.7 million, up 2.57% from the year-ago quarter’s $112.8 million.
Interest expenses were $32.7 million, up 22.1% year over year.
Financial Highlights of MDU
As of March 31, 2026, cash and cash equivalents were $53.3 million compared with $28.2 million as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Long-term debt as of March 31, 2026, was $2.38 billion compared with $2.53 billion as of Sept. 30, 2025.
In the first three months of 2026, net cash provided by operating activities was $149.2 million compared with $217.5 million in the year-ago period.
In the first three months of 2026, capital expenditure was $92.4 million compared with $93 million in the year-ago period.
MDU’s Guidance
For 2026, MDU Resources expects its earnings to be between 93 cents and $1 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at 98 cents, which lies at the higher end of the company’s projected range.
The company continues to expect a long-term EPS growth rate of 6-8%.
MDU anticipates its utility customers’ growth to continue at an annual rate of 1-2%.
Capital expenditure for 2026 is projected at $565 million and plans to invest $3,113 million during the 2026-2030 period.
MDU’s Zacks Rank
MDU Resources currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Recent Releases
Atmos Energy ATO posted second-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings of $3.47 per share, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.37 by 2.97%. The bottom line improved 14.52% from the year-ago quarter’s $3.03.
Total revenues of $1.96 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.24 billion by 12.37%. However, the top line rose 0.61% from the prior-year quarter’s $1.95 billion.
Southwest Gas Holdings Inc. SWX reported first-quarter 2026 operating earnings of $1.91 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.88 by 1.60%. The bottom line increased 15.76% from the year-ago quarter.
Operating revenues totaled $585.1 million, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $737 million by 20.62%. The top line decreased 21.61% from $746.4 million reported in the prior-year quarter.
Northwest Natural NWN reported first-quarter 2026 operating earnings of $2.33 per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.31 by 0.87%. The bottom line increased 2.19% from the year-ago quarter.
Operating revenues totaled $490 million, which lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $504 million by 2.78%. The top line increased 0.79% from $494 million reported in the prior-year quarter.
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Southwest Gas Corporation (SWX): Free Stock Analysis Report
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MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).