A month has gone by since the last earnings report for MDU Resources (MDU - Free Report) . Shares have added about 4% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is MDU Resources due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
MDU Resources Q4 Earnings Lag Estimates, Revenues Up
MDU Resources delivered fourth-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 39 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 42 cents by 7.14%. Operating earnings fell 33.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level.
In 2018, the company posted operating earnings of $1.38 per share compared with $1.45 in 2017.
Total Revenues
Total revenues in the fourth quarter were $1,209.9 million, up 3.8% from $1,165.2 million in the year-ago quarter.
Operating revenues in the electric, natural gas distribution and regulated pipeline as well as the midstream segments fell 4.5% to $361.5 million. However, revenues in the non-regulated pipeline and midstream, construction materials and contracting, construction services and other segments increased 7.8% to $848.4 million.
In 2018, the company generated revenues of $4,531.6 million compared with $4,443.4 million in 2017.
Highlights of the Release
In the quarter under review, operating expenses amounted to $836.6 million, up 7.1% from the prior-year quarter’s figure of $781.1 million. The company incurred interest expenses of $22.4 million, up from $20.8 million in the prior-year quarter.
Operating income was $118.3 million, down 4.5% year over year.
As of Dec 31, the construction services business had backlog of $939 million, up 33% from the year-ago tally. The construction materials business had backlog of $706 million, up 45% from the prior-year figure.
Financial Highlights
Total debt amounted to $2,109 million as of Dec 31, 2018, up from $1,715 million as of Dec 21, 2017. The company’s net cash flow from operating activities in 2018 was $499.9 million, up from $448 million in 2017.
Guidance
MDU Resources expects 2019 earnings per share in the range of $1.35-$1.55, whose mid-point of $1.45 is below the current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the period of $1.53.
The company plans to invest $ 2,659 million through 2019-2023.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Analysts were quiet during the last two month period as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.
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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for MDU Resources (MDU - Free Report) . Shares have added about 4% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is MDU Resources due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
MDU Resources Q4 Earnings Lag Estimates, Revenues Up
MDU Resources delivered fourth-quarter 2018 operating earnings of 39 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 42 cents by 7.14%. Operating earnings fell 33.8% from the year-ago quarter’s level.
In 2018, the company posted operating earnings of $1.38 per share compared with $1.45 in 2017.
Total Revenues
Total revenues in the fourth quarter were $1,209.9 million, up 3.8% from $1,165.2 million in the year-ago quarter.
Operating revenues in the electric, natural gas distribution and regulated pipeline as well as the midstream segments fell 4.5% to $361.5 million. However, revenues in the non-regulated pipeline and midstream, construction materials and contracting, construction services and other segments increased 7.8% to $848.4 million.
In 2018, the company generated revenues of $4,531.6 million compared with $4,443.4 million in 2017.
Highlights of the Release
In the quarter under review, operating expenses amounted to $836.6 million, up 7.1% from the prior-year quarter’s figure of $781.1 million. The company incurred interest expenses of $22.4 million, up from $20.8 million in the prior-year quarter.
Operating income was $118.3 million, down 4.5% year over year.
As of Dec 31, the construction services business had backlog of $939 million, up 33% from the year-ago tally. The construction materials business had backlog of $706 million, up 45% from the prior-year figure.
Financial Highlights
Total debt amounted to $2,109 million as of Dec 31, 2018, up from $1,715 million as of Dec 21, 2017. The company’s net cash flow from operating activities in 2018 was $499.9 million, up from $448 million in 2017.
Guidance
MDU Resources expects 2019 earnings per share in the range of $1.35-$1.55, whose mid-point of $1.45 is below the current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the period of $1.53.
The company plans to invest $ 2,659 million through 2019-2023.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Analysts were quiet during the last two month period as none of them issued any earnings estimate revisions.
Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.
This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.
Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>
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