MDU Resources Reports Strong Performance; Initiates Guidance for 2025

• Net income of $281.1 million.
• Regulated energy delivery earnings totaled $189.7 million, 13.6% increase year-over-year.
• Record annual pipeline transportation volumes, up 8.1% year-over-year.
• Utility rate base grew 6.8% year-over-year.
• 2025 guidance: earnings per share in the range of $0.88 to $0.98.

BISMARCK, N.D., Feb. 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MDU Resources Group Inc. (NYSE: MDU) today announced its financial results for 2024, showcasing strong year-over-year regulated growth. Key infrastructure projects and regulatory rate relief drove robust performance, positioning the company for continued success as a premier regulated energy delivery business following the successful spinoff of Everus Construction Group on Oct. 31, 2024.

"MDU Resources delivered exceptional results in 2024, underscoring the strength of our employees, strategic investments and continued focus on operational excellence," said Nicole A. Kivisto, president and CEO of MDU Resources. "The growth in our regulated businesses is evidenced by our record annual transportation volumes, effective regulatory outcomes, and strong customer growth."

The following summarizes the company's year-end results for the twelve months ended Dec. 31:

"As we look to 2025 and beyond, MDU Resources is committed to further strengthening its position as a leading regulated energy delivery business," Kivisto added. "Our new vision, energizing lives for a better tomorrow, sets our sights on sustained growth and building stockholder value while ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve."

Electric Utility Segment

• Electric utility earnings up 4.5% year-over-year, totaling $74.8 million.
• Rate relief in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana contributed $7.1 million in additional revenue.

The electric utility segment achieved solid growth in 2024, supported by rate relief. Gains were partially offset by lower volumes from the majority of customers, mainly from cooler weather during typically warm months, and higher operations and maintenance expense.

Natural Gas Distribution Segment

• Earnings of $46.9 million, a slight year-over-year decrease, primarily due to higher operations and maintenance and depreciation and amortization expenses.
• Benefited from rate relief primarily from North Dakota and South Dakota regulatory actions, contributing $14.1 million in revenue.

The natural gas distribution segment maintained stable performance, despite some higher expenses. Rate relief actions and customer growth contributed to consistent performance.

Regulatory Update

• On Nov. 7, 2024, the North Dakota Public Service Commission approved an all-party settlement reflecting an annual revenue increase of $9.4 million, effective Dec. 1, 2024, stemming from a general rate case the utility filed on Nov. 1, 2023, requesting $11.6 million in annual revenue.
• On Dec. 11, 2024, the utility filed a negotiated settlement agreement with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission relating to a multi-year general rate case filed March 29, 2024. The agreement calls for an annual revenue increase of $29.8 million effective March 1, 2025, and $10.8 million effective March 1, 2026.
• On Jan. 14, 2025, the utility was granted interim rate relief of $7.7 million by the Montana Public Service Commission for a general rate case filed July 15, 2024, requesting $9.4 million in annual revenue. The interim rate is effective Feb. 1, 2025.

Pipeline Segment

• Record earnings up 45.0% year-over-year, totaling $68.0 million.
• Record annual transportation volumes in 2024 due to new projects placed in service in late 2023 and throughout 2024.
• Storage-related revenue grew by $7.1 million in 2024, reflecting continued strong demand for natural gas storage services.

The pipeline segment delivered record annual results in 2024, driven by strong transportation and storage revenue from the successful execution of several strategic expansion projects and new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved rates effective Aug. 1, 2023. The business also benefited from non-recurring items, including proceeds received from a customer settlement that was recorded in other income and a decrease in the company's effective state income tax rate. Earnings were partially offset by higher operations and maintenance, depreciation and amortization, and interest expenses.

The pipeline segment continues to execute on its growth strategy with several projects completed in 2024 and additional projects in various stages of development, including:

• Purchase of a 28-mile natural gas pipeline lateral in northwestern North Dakota which closed on Nov. 1, 2024.
• The Wahpeton Expansion project in eastern North Dakota which was placed in service on Dec. 1, 2024. The project adds approximately 20 million cubic feet of natural gas transportation capacity per day.
• Signed agreements for an expansion project to serve a new electric generation facility in northwest North Dakota, with a targeted in-service date of late 2028.
• Potential Bakken East Pipeline project, which could consist of 375 miles of pipeline construction from western North Dakota to the eastern part of the state. A non-binding open season for the project concluded on Jan. 31, 2025. The company is currently evaluating the results.

Discontinued Operations and Adjusted Earnings
On October 31, 2024, MDU Resources successfully completed the spinoff of Everus Construction Group, which became an independent, publicly traded company. MDU Resources has reported Everus' and Knife River's results and the transaction costs and certain interest expenses associated with the spinoffs as discontinued operations, and MDU Resources' prior period results have been restated to reflect the spinoffs.

MDU Resources is reporting adjusted income from continuing operations and adjusted earnings per share that exclude the costs associated with its strategic initiatives which did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations. Adjusted income from continuing operations and adjusted earnings per share are non-GAAP measures. The "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section of this news release explains the earnings adjustments. More information about MDU Resources' strategic initiatives can be found on the company's website at www.mdu.com.

Guidance
For 2025, MDU Resources expects earnings per share to be in the range of $0.88 to $0.98. In addition, the company has $533 million in capital investment planned for 2025.

The expected 2025 results are based on these assumptions:

• Normal weather, economic and operating conditions.
• Continued availability of necessary equipment and materials.
• Electric and natural gas customer growth continuing at a rate of 1%-2% annually.
• No equity issuances.

Corporate Strategy
MDU Resources is committed to its CORE strategy, which prioritizes customers and communities, operational excellence, returns focused initiatives and an employee-driven culture. The company anticipates a capital investment of approximately $3.1 billion for 2025-2029, 7% to 8% long-term compound annual growth on utility rate base and customer growth of 1%-2% annually. Additionally, the company anticipates 6% to 8% long-term compound annual growth on earnings per share while targeting a 60% to 70% annual dividend payout ratio.

Conference Call
MDU Resources' management will discuss on a webcast at 2 p.m. ET today the company's 2024 results. The webcast can be accessed at www.mdu.com under the "Investors" heading. Select "Events & Presentations," and click on "Year-End 2024 Earnings Conference Call." A replay of the webcast will be available at the same location.

About MDU Resources
MDU Resources Group, Inc., a member of the S&P SmallCap 600 index, provides essential products and services through its regulated electric and natural gas distribution and pipeline segments. Founded in 1924 as a small electric utility, MDU Resources has grown to serve more than 1.2 million customers across eight states and is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Learn more at www.mdu.com/100th-anniversary. The company operates in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, constructing and operating infrastructure that delivers natural gas and electricity that energizes homes and businesses. For more information about MDU Resources, visit www.mdu.com or contact the Investor Relations Department at [email protected].

Financial Contact: Brent Miller, treasurer, 701-530-1730
Media Contact: Byron Pfordte, director of integrated communications, 208-377-6050

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Other than statements of historical facts, all statements which address activities, events or developments that the company anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, such things as estimates for growth, stockholder value creation, our CORE strategy, capital expenditures, financial guidance and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors, which are detailed in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

While made in good faith, these forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and judgments and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control. For additional discussion regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" disclosed in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and subsequent filings. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by applicable law, the company undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

 

 

The capital program is subject to continued review and modification by the company. Actual expenditures may vary from the estimates due to changes in load growth, regulatory decisions and other factors.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The company, in addition to presenting its earnings in conformity with GAAP, has provided non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted income from continuing operations and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations. The company defines adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations as income from continuing operations attributable to the company before any transaction-related impacts from strategic initiatives which did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations as earnings per share from continuing operations before any transaction-related impacts from strategic initiatives which did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations, including the 2023 realized gain and the associated fourth quarter reversal of income taxes previously recorded on retained shares in Knife River.

The company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful information to investors about the 2023 realized gain and the associated fourth quarter reversal of income taxes previously recorded on retained shares in Knife River and the costs associated with the company's strategic initiatives which did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations. The company's management uses the non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with GAAP results when evaluating the company's operating results and calculating compensation packages. Non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized; therefore, it may not be possible to compare such financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered a substitution for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. The company strongly encourages investors to review the consolidated financial statements in their entirety and to not rely on any single financial measure.

The following table provides a reconciliation of consolidated income from continuing operations to adjusted income from continuing operations and earnings per share from continuing operations to adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations:

 

 

The electric business reported net income of $17.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $17.7 million for the same period in 2023. This decrease was largely the result of lower investment returns on nonqualified benefit plans, higher operation and maintenance expense, primarily payroll-related costs, and higher depreciation and amortization expense, primarily due to increased asset additions. The decrease in net income was partially offset by increased retail sales revenue.

For the full year, the electric business reported net income of $74.8 million, compared to $71.6 million in 2023. This increase was primarily the result of higher retail sales revenue due to rate relief in North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. Lower volumes from the majority of customers, primarily due to cooler weather in the second quarter, and higher operation and maintenance expense, primarily contract services costs, partially offset the increases.

 

The natural gas distribution business reported net income of $29.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $30.5 million for the same period in 2023. The decrease was largely the result of higher operation and maintenance expense, primarily higher payroll-related costs and higher contract service costs. Also decreasing net income were lower investment returns on nonqualified benefit plans. These decreases were partially offset by higher retail sales revenue, primarily due to rate relief in North Dakota and South Dakota. The business also experienced a 4.0% increase in retail sales volumes, primarily to residential and commercial customer classes, which was partially offset by weather normalization and decoupling mechanisms.

For the full year, the natural gas distribution business reported net income of $46.9 million, compared to $48.5 million in 2023. The decrease was largely the result of higher operation and maintenance expense, primarily higher contract service costs, higher payroll-related costs, and higher software expenses. Also decreasing net income was higher depreciation and amortization expense, primarily due to increased asset additions. These decreases were partially offset by higher retail sales revenue, primarily due to rate relief in North Dakota and South Dakota.

 

The pipeline business reported net income of $20.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $18.0 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was driven by higher transportation volumes, primarily from growth projects placed in service in November 2023 and throughout 2024. The business also benefited from a decrease in the company's effective state income tax rate. Higher storage-related revenue further drove the increase. The increase was offset in part by higher operation and maintenance expense, primarily attributable to higher materials and contract services. The business also incurred higher depreciation and amortization expense and property taxes due to growth projects placed in service as discussed earlier.

For the full year, the pipeline business reported net income of $68.0 million, compared to $46.9 million in 2023. The earnings increase was driven by higher transportation volumes, primarily from growth projects placed in service in November 2023 and throughout 2024 and increased contracted volume commitments beginning February 2023 from the North Bakken Expansion project. Higher storage-related revenue and a full year of new  transportation and storage service rates in 2024 further drove the increase. The business also benefited from proceeds received from a customer settlement that was recorded in other income and a decrease in the company's effective state income tax rate. The increase was offset in part by higher operation and maintenance expense primarily attributable to payroll-related costs and higher materials, contract services and pipeline safety fees. The business incurred higher depreciation and amortization expense due to growth projects placed in service as discussed earlier, which was partially offset by fully depreciated assets. The business also incurred higher interest expense largely as a result of higher debt balances and higher property taxes in Montana and North Dakota.

The company completed the separations of Knife River on May 31, 2023, its former construction materials and contracting segment, and of Everus on October 31, 2024, its former construction services segment, into new independent publicly-traded companies. As a result of these separations, the historical results of operations for Knife River and Everus are shown in discontinued operations, net of tax, except for allocated general corporate overhead costs of the company which did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations. Also included in discontinued operations are certain strategic initiative costs associated with the separations of Knife River and Everus.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, Other reported a net loss compared to net income in the same period in 2023. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in results from discontinued operations, largely transaction related costs in 2024 and one month of Everus results compared to a full quarter in 2023. Other was also impacted by the absence of the company's 2023 $16.4 million gain on the tax-free exchange of its retained interest in Knife River and the associated reversal of income taxes previously recorded of $56.6 million. The company had recorded income tax expense on the unrealized gain and once it completed the tax-free monetization of the retained interest, the taxes were reversed. Partially offsetting the decrease in net income was lower operation and maintenance expense due to lower corporate overhead costs classified as continuing operations allocated to the construction services business in 2023, strategic initiative costs which did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations, as well as lower interest expense.

For the full year, Other was impacted by the absence of the company's 2023 gain of $186.6 million related to the tax-free exchange of its retained shares in Knife River. Partially offsetting the decrease in net income was lower operation and maintenance expense, largely a result of corporate overhead costs classified as continuing operations allocated to the construction materials business in 2023, which are not included in Other in 2024, and lower strategic initiative costs. Other also benefited from lower interest expense due to lower borrowings associated with funding strategic initiatives.

Also included in Other is insurance activity at the company's captive insurer, annualized income tax adjustments of the holding company primarily associated with corporate functions, and general and administrative costs and interest expense previously allocated to the exploration and production and refining businesses that did not meet the criteria for discontinued operations.

 

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SOURCE MDU Resources Group, Inc.