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MDU Resources Group Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Earnings per share of $0.93: Net income was $190.4 million and diluted EPS $0.93 for 2025, compared with $281.1 million and $1.37 in 2024. Source
  • Utility rate base grew 16.0%: Utility rate base rose 16.0% year over year, counting the 49% Badger Wind Farm stake placed in service December 31, 2025. Source
  • Electric earnings fell $9.9 million: Electric net income was $64.9 million for 2025, down from $74.8 million, mainly on higher operation and maintenance expense. Source
  • Gas distribution earnings rose $9.2 million: Full-year gas distribution net income was $56.1 million, up from $46.9 million, mainly from rate relief in Washington, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. Source
  • Pipeline earnings reached $68.2 million: Pipeline net income was $68.2 million for 2025, up from $68.0 million, driven by expansion projects and short-term firm capacity demand, offset by O&M and depreciation. Source
  • Montana electric rate case pending: The Montana electric filing seeks $14.1 million annually, including Badger Wind recovery, and the commission has nine months to decide. Source
  • 2025 capital spending was $792 million: Capital spending in 2025 totaled $792 million, including the Badger Wind Farm acquisition that was completed December 31, 2025. Source
  • Payroll costs rose across segments: Higher payroll-related costs were a common driver of operation and maintenance expense in the electric, gas and pipeline segments during 2025. Source

“2025 was a transformative year for our company,”

Nicole A. Kivisto, president and CEO of MDU Resources

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Earnings per share (diluted) Source2026$0.93 to $1.00New
Capital expenditures Source2026$560 millionNew
Capital investment Source2026-2030approximately $3.1 billionNew
Utility customer growth Sourceannual, 2026 onward1% - 2% annuallyKept
Long-term EPS growth Sourcelong-term6% - 8% compound annual growthKept
Dividend payout ratio Sourceannual, long-term60% - 70%
Equity issuance Source2026$150 million to $175 million
Equity issuance Source2027$100 million to $125 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Company initiated 2026 EPS guidance of $0.93 to $1.00. The prior release gave 2025 guidance of $0.90 to $0.95. Source
  • Guidance kept: Long-term EPS growth guidance of 6% - 8% was left unchanged. Source
  • New: Badger Wind Farm: 49% stake acquired and placed in service on Dec. 31, 2025, after being planned in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: December 2025 follow-on equity offering of 10,152,284 shares at $19.70 per share; underwriters later exercised an option for 1,522,842 additional shares. Source
  • New: Montana electric: interim rate relief was denied, and a reconsideration request was taken up February 3, 2026 with no action. Source
  • New: Wyoming electric rate case settled at a $5.8 million annual increase, against the $7.5 million requested, with the Reliability and Safety Rider to be withdrawn. Source
  • New: Idaho gas rate case settlement approved December 30, 2025, for a $13.0 million annual increase, effective January 1, 2026. Source
  • New: Bakken East moved to a binding open season launched February 2, 2026, following a FERC pre-filing request submitted December 23, 2025. Source

Full-year results and growth drivers

  • Earnings per share of $0.93: Net income was $190.4 million and diluted EPS $0.93 for 2025, compared with $281.1 million and $1.37 in 2024. Source
  • Continuing operations earnings rose $10.3 million: Income from continuing operations was $191.4 million, up $10.3 million, while 2024 net income included Everus discontinued operations. Source
  • Utility rate base grew 16.0%: Utility rate base rose 16.0% year over year, counting the 49% Badger Wind Farm stake placed in service December 31, 2025. Source
  • 2024 comparison includes Everus results: Everus results are shown as discontinued operations, and prior period figures were restated after the October 31, 2024 spinoff. Source

Electric segment results

  • Electric earnings fell $9.9 million: Electric net income was $64.9 million for 2025, down from $74.8 million, mainly on higher operation and maintenance expense. Source
  • Electric O&M rose 17.2%: Electric operation and maintenance expense was $111.3 million, up 17.2%, on payroll, Coyote outage work, software and insurance costs. Source
  • Retail volumes lifted by data center: Electric retail sales volume was 4,579.1 million kWh versus 4,244.5 million kWh, partly from a data center near Ellendale, North Dakota. Source
  • Fourth-quarter electric earnings rose: Fourth-quarter electric net income was $18.0 million, up from $17.1 million, on higher retail revenue, partly offset by payroll and insurance costs. Source

“In our first full year operating as a pure-play business, I am extremely proud of the team's performance.”

Nicole A. Kivisto, president and CEO of MDU Resources

Natural gas distribution results

  • Gas distribution earnings rose $9.2 million: Full-year gas distribution net income was $56.1 million, up from $46.9 million, mainly from rate relief in Washington, Montana, South Dakota and Wyoming. Source
  • Warm weather reduced fourth-quarter volumes: Fourth-quarter retail sales volumes fell 6.2% on warmer weather, largely offset by weather normalization and decoupling mechanisms. Source
  • Fourth-quarter gas earnings increased: Fourth-quarter net income was $37.0 million, up from $29.4 million, on higher retail revenue, mostly from rate relief in Washington, Montana and Wyoming. Source

Pipeline and other segments

  • Pipeline earnings reached $68.2 million: Pipeline net income was $68.2 million for 2025, up from $68.0 million, driven by expansion projects and short-term firm capacity demand, offset by O&M and depreciation. Source
  • Minot Expansion entered service: The Minot Expansion Project was placed in service November 1, 2025, adding about seven million cubic feet per day of transportation capacity. Source
  • Short-term firm capacity demand rose: Customers bought more short-term firm capacity, adding transportation revenue, while fourth-quarter storage demand was lower. Source
  • Other segment net income fell: Other reported net income of $1.2 million for 2025 versus $91.4 million, mainly because 2024 included discontinued operations income from Everus. Source

“We deployed $792 million of capital that advanced key projects, including the 49% ownership acquisition of Badger Wind Farm”

Nicole A. Kivisto, president and CEO of MDU Resources

Rate cases and regulatory decisions

  • Montana electric rate case pending: The Montana electric filing seeks $14.1 million annually, including Badger Wind recovery, and the commission has nine months to decide. Source
  • Montana gas settlement took effect: The Montana gas settlement finalized a $7.3 million annual increase, with rates effective November 1, 2025. Source
  • Washington revenue cut for unfinished plant: Washington year one revenue was reduced by $3.7 million on June 1, 2025, for forecasted projects that were not placed in service. Source
  • North Dakota Badger recovery approved: The North Dakota commission approved the updated renewable resource cost adjustment on January 26, 2026, including recovery of Badger Wind Farm. Source
  • Oregon gas rate case filed: The Oregon gas filing seeks $16.4 million annually, with rates anticipated to be effective October 31, 2026. Source

Capital spending, equity and cash

  • 2025 capital spending was $792 million: Capital spending in 2025 totaled $792 million, including the Badger Wind Farm acquisition that was completed December 31, 2025. Source
  • Forward sales settle before December 2027: Forward sale agreements from the December 2025 offering, covering 11,675,126 shares, allow settlement on one or more dates before December 6, 2027. Source
  • Operating cash flow was lower: Net cash from operating activities was $473.4 million in 2025 versus $502.3 million, with investing outflows of $780.9 million and financing inflows of $268.8 million. Source
  • Year-end capitalization was 49.1% debt: At December 31, 2025, total debt was $2,677 million and total equity $2,773 million, a 49.1% debt capitalization ratio. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Payroll costs rose across segments: Higher payroll-related costs were a common driver of operation and maintenance expense in the electric, gas and pipeline segments during 2025. Source
  • Insurance and software costs increased: Gas distribution operation and maintenance rose on insurance, payroll and software expense, with some software costs partly recovered in other income. Source
  • Pipeline depreciation and property taxes rose: Pipeline depreciation rose on growth projects placed in service, and Montana property taxes were higher, while a 2024 state tax benefit did not recur. Source
  • Consolidated O&M and purchased gas costs: Consolidated operation and maintenance expense was $433.0 million in 2025, versus $414.5 million, and purchased natural gas sold was $671.5 million, versus $630.4 million. Source

Strategy and leadership

  • CORE strategy remains the framework: Management said the company remains committed to its CORE strategy, covering customers and communities, operational excellence, returns-focused initiatives and an employee-driven culture. Source
  • First full year as pure-play: Management described 2025 as the first full year operating as a pure-play business following the Everus spinoff. Source
  • Employee commitment cited for 2026: Management tied 2026 earnings guidance and customer growth to employees' commitment to operational excellence in meeting rising demand. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 February 2026

  • Montana electric decision due: The Montana commission has nine months to rule on the electric case; the reconsideration request was taken up February 3, 2026, with no action. Source
  • Wyoming electric rates expected April: Wyoming electric settlement rates are expected to take effect April 1, 2026. Source
  • Washington year two increase: Washington year two rates reflecting a $10.8 million annual increase take effect March 1, 2026, subject to a provisional plant review. Source
  • Oregon gas rates expected October: Oregon gas rates are anticipated to take effect October 31, 2026, if the requested case is approved. Source
  • Line Section 32 construction target: Line Section 32 expansion construction is targeted for completion in late 2028, after the FERC application planned for March 2026. Source
  • Bakken East negotiations continue: Contract negotiations with several interested parties for the Bakken East project are continuing. Source
  • Minot Industrial early-stage support: Early-stage development support for the Minot Industrial project runs through the second quarter of 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Rate base growth Source16.0% year-over-year, including Badger Wind Farm stake
Capital plan Source$560 million for 2026; approximately $3.1 billion for 2026-2030
Customer growth Source1% - 2% annually
Load growth Sourceelectric retail sales 4,579.1 million kWh in 2025 vs 4,244.5 million kWh in 2024
Rate cases SourceMontana electric $14.1 million requested; Montana gas $7.3 million settled; Idaho gas $13.0 million; Oregon gas $16.4 million requested
EPS growth target Source6% - 8% long-term compound annual growth

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: The Montana commission denied interim electric rate relief requested for January 1, 2026; the reconsideration request was not acted on February 3, 2026. Source
  • Financial: Management said capital estimates may change with load growth, regulatory decisions and other factors. Source
  • Demand: Warmer weather reduced fourth-quarter gas retail volumes, with weather normalization and decoupling mechanisms largely offsetting the effect. Source
  • Demand: Customer demand for storage services was lower in the pipeline business during the fourth quarter. Source
  • Operational: Operating costs rose on payroll, planned Coyote outage work, software and insurance, according to management. Source
  • External: Management cited weather-related variability as a factor in 2025 results, alongside higher operating costs. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management referred to its earlier stated equity issuance range for 2026 and 2027, to support near-term capital expenditures. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the long-term EPS growth guidance is unchanged from its prior statement. Source
  • Met: The Minot Expansion Project was placed in service on November 1, 2025, as planned in the prior quarter. Source
  • Met: The company completed the Badger Wind Farm 49% acquisition and placed it in service on December 31, 2025. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it continues to make progress on required surveys and anticipates filing the FERC application in March 2026. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.