June 29, 2023
Top 10 Stock MDU Resources Hold Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: MDU Resources – Top 10 Stock in S&P Mid-Cap Index
MDU Resources is listed as a top 10 stock on June 29, 2023 in the market index S&P MIDCAP because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. Only the Obermatt Value Rank exhibits above-average performance, which means that the stock is seen as critical by the professional community and other financial facts are below average, conveying mixed investment signals. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 25 (25% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall hold recommendation for MDU Resources on June 29, 2023.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
Country | USA |
Industry | Construction & Engineering |
Index | Dividends USA, S&P MIDCAP |
Size class | X-Large |
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When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View MDU Resources Hold
360 METRICS | June 29, 2023 | |||||||
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VALUE | ||||||||
VALUE | 96 |
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GROWTH | ||||||||
GROWTH | 15 |
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SAFETY | ||||||||
SAFETY | 13 |
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SENTIMENT | ||||||||
SENTIMENT | 40 |
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360° VIEW | ||||||||
360° VIEW | 25 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 25 (better than 25% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock MDU Resources are below the industry average. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for MDU Resources. Only the consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 96, which means that the share price of MDU Resources is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means that the stock price is lower than for 96% of alternative stocks in the same industry. All other consolidated ranks are below average. The consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 15, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 13, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 87% comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. Finally, professionals are more pessimistic about the stock than for 60% of alternative investment opportunities, reflected in the consolidated Sentiment Rank of 40. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 25, MDU Resources is worse than 75% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Only one of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibits above-average performance, namely the Value Rank at a level of 96. All other ranks are below average, so proceed with caution. The company has below-average growth expectations (Growth Rank of 15), a riskier financing structure than the competition (Safety Rank of 13), and the market sentiment in the professional investor community ranking at (Sentiment Rank of 40) is negative. This combination is sensitive to a crisis, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. It’s no wonder that the investor community indicators are skeptical (low sentiment). Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this assessment. We recommend evaluating whether the future of MDU Resources is as challenging as the low price of the stock suggests. Since the professional community is pessimistic, you might need to worry about the future of MDU Resources. Only invest if you have solid reasons to believe that the low growth is temporary and the current market sentiment is an overreaction, possibly due to reputational issues in the past. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for MDU Resources only reserved
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 40 (better than 40% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock MDU Resources is below industry average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for MDU Resources. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 74 (better than 74% of alternative investments), which means that currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. Market Pulse is also positive with a rank of 63, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are positive when discussing this company (more positive news than for 63% of competitors). But Analyst Opinions Change is negative with a below 50 rank of 10, which means that stock research experts are changing their opinions for the worse in recommending the company. In other words, they are getting more critical of investments in MDU Resources. There are also only so many institutional investors holding company stock with a Professional Investors rank of 40, which means that, currently, professional investors hold less stock in this company than in 60% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to invest in other companies. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 40 (less encouraging than 60% compared with investment alternatives), MDU Resources has a reputation among professional investors that is below that of its competitors. The signals are ambivalent. The positive news in the market contradicts the negative change in analyst recommendations. Since the overall analyst recommendations are still above average, the stock may be safer for investing, especially if it is not an extra-large company where Pros tend to be less present. In such a case, the Pro Investor rank is not a problem. ...read more
Value Strategy: MDU Resources Stock Price Value at the top
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 96 (better than 96% compared with alternatives) for 2023, MDU Resources shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for MDU Resources. Price-to-Sales is 63 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 63% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for MDU Resources's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 71% of alternatives, and this is also true for the Price-to-Book capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 90. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of MDU Resources are expected to be higher than for 98% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 98). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 96, is a buy recommendation based on MDU Resources's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since all value metrics are above the industry average, there is no objection to investing in MDU Resources based on its detailed value metrics.
Growth Strategy: MDU Resources Growth Momentum negative
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 15 (better than 15% compared with alternatives), MDU Resources shows one of the most restricted growth dynamics in its industry. There is little momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for MDU Resources. Only Capital Growth has a good rank of 86, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 33% of its competitors. The other three indicators are pointing South: Sales Growth has a rank of 1 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 99% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 33 and Stock Returns with a rank of 35 are also low (below 65% of alternative investments). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 15, is a sell recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The good news from the invested capital side is surprising. A company with disappointing revenues, profits, and disappointed shareholders typically doesn't invest above average. Overall, the growth momentum for MDU Resources is thus negative. As it is intriguing to see that company executives are optimistic about their investment policy, it is worthwhile looking into the details of the capital investment projects. They may indicate future growth and profits and thus if accompanied by a good value, a sign of good timing to invest in the stock. ...read more
Safety Strategy: MDU Resources Debt Financing Safety risky
SAFETY METRICS | June 29, 2023 | |||||||
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LEVERAGE | ||||||||
LEVERAGE | 22 |
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REFINANCING | ||||||||
REFINANCING | 27 |
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LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
LIQUIDITY | 44 |
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CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 13 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 13 (better than 13% compared with alternatives), the company MDU Resources has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of MDU Resources is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with all three metrics below average for MDU Resources. Liquidity is at 44, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 56% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. Even worse, Leverage is at a rank of 22, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 78% of its competitors. Finally, Refinancing is at a rank of 27 which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 73% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 13 (worse than 87% compared with alternatives), MDU Resources has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. This combination is rather dangerous in most situations. Only very promising companies with bright future outlooks and stellar reputations can operate with such risky financing.
Combined financial peformance: MDU Resources Lowest Financial Performance
COMBINED PERFORMANCE | June 29, 2023 | |||||||
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VALUE | ||||||||
VALUE | 96 |
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GROWTH | ||||||||
GROWTH | 15 |
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SAFETY | ||||||||
SAFETY | 44 |
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COMBINED | ||||||||
COMBINED | 18 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 18 (worse than 82% compared with investment alternatives), MDU Resources (Construction & Engineering, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of MDU Resources are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 96 (better than 96% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 15), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 13), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 18, is a sell recommendation based on MDU Resources's financial characteristics. As the company MDU Resources's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 96) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 15) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 13), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 96% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. ...read more
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