BISMARCK, N.D., May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE: MDU) today reported first quarter earnings of $52.1 million, or 26 cents per share, compared to first quarter 2020 earnings of $25.1 million, or 13 cents per share.

"Our businesses are off to a very strong start in 2021," said David L. Goodin, president and CEO of MDU Resources. "We had record earnings at our construction services and pipeline businesses, increased natural gas sales volumes at our utility operations and a stronger start to the year at our construction materials business. With the strong first quarter results and our expectation of continuing robust demand for our products and services, we are raising the lower end of our 2021 earnings guidance.

"As we continue Building a Strong America, we are well-positioned to capitalize on a federal infrastructure funding package and believe it will provide substantial longer-term opportunities across our two platforms of businesses."

Business Unit Highlights
Regulated Energy Delivery
The electric and natural gas utility earned $46.9 million in the first quarter, compared to $43.7 million in the first quarter of 2020. Rate relief in several natural gas utility jurisdictions contributed to the increase in earnings, as well as higher natural gas sales volumes. Natural gas sales volumes were 1.8% higher and electric sales volumes were 2.2% lower compared to the first quarter last year. The company's electric and natural gas systems continued to perform well, providing safe and reliable service to customers during extreme winter conditions experienced in February across the country.

Earnings at the pipeline business were a record $8.9 million for the first quarter, compared to $7.4 million in the first quarter last year. The earnings increase is primarily the result of higher customer demand for natural gas storage services. The company continues to await approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its North Bakken Expansion project, a planned pipeline extension in North Dakota that would be able to transport 250 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and reduce flaring in the Bakken. The project is supported by long-term agreements with non-affiliated customers. The company expected final regulatory approval in the first quarter and is adjusting its construction schedule to reflect the delay, which will result in a later in-service date for the project.

Construction Materials and Services
The construction services business had record first quarter earnings of $29.8 million, compared to $16.8 million in first quarter 2020. Results in 2020 included a negative $6.7 million, after tax, out-of-period adjustment to correct revenue recognition on a construction contract. The company continues to see particularly strong demand for high tech and utility-related construction services. Its backlog of work at March 31 set a first quarter record at $1.273 billion, compared to $1.267 billion at March 31 last year.

The construction materials business experienced a seasonal loss of $30.8 million in the first quarter, compared to a loss of $38.2 million in the first quarter of 2020. Favorable weather allowed for an earlier start on the construction season in certain areas compared to last year. As previously announced, this business during the first quarter acquired an aggregates operation in Portland, Oregon, and also received a key permit to expand operations at a Texas aggregate quarry. The construction materials backlog of work at March 31 was $819 million, compared to $905 million at March 31 last year.

Guidance
MDU Resources has raised the lower end of its guidance and now expects earnings per share in the range of $2.00 to $2.15 in 2021, based on these assumptions:

• Normal weather, including precipitation and temperatures, across all company markets.
• Continued recognition as essential service providers across all company markets.
• Electric and natural gas customer growth continuing at a rate of 1-2% annually.
• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the range of $875 million to $925 million.
• Construction materials revenues in the range of $2.1 billion to $2.3 billion and construction services revenues in the range of $2.1 billion to $2.3 billion, with margins comparable to or slightly higher than 2020.

The company plans to invest $811 million for capital projects in 2021; future acquisitions or divestitures are not included in this amount and would be incremental to 2021 results.

Corporate Strategy
MDU Resources' strategy is to deliver superior value with a two-platform model, regulated energy delivery and construction materials and services businesses, while also pursuing organic growth opportunities and using a disciplined approach to strategic acquisitions of well-managed companies and properties. The company, on a consolidated basis, anticipates 5-8% long-term compound annual growth on earnings per share.

Conference Call
MDU Resources will discuss first quarter results on a webcast at 2 p.m. EDT May 6. The event can be accessed at www.mdu.com. Webcast and audio replays will be available through May 20 at 855-859-2056, or 404-537-3406 for international callers, conference ID 2374997.

About MDU Resources
MDU Resources Group, Inc., a member of the S&P MidCap 400 index and the S&P High-Yield Dividend Aristocrats index, is Building a Strong America® by providing essential products and services through its regulated energy delivery and construction materials and services businesses. For more information about MDU Resources, see the company's website at www.mdu.com or contact the Investor Relations Department at [email protected].

Media Contact: Laura Lueder, manager of communications and public relations, 701-530-1095
Financial Contact: Jason Vollmer, vice president and chief financial officer, 701-530-1755

Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained in this press release highlights the key growth strategies, projections and certain assumptions for the company and its subsidiaries and other matters for each of the company's businesses. Many of these highlighted statements and other statements not historical in nature are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although the company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, there is no assurance that the company's projections, including estimates for growth and financial guidance, will in fact be achieved. Please refer to assumptions contained in this press release, as well as the various important factors listed in Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors in the company's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC.

Changes in such assumptions and factors could cause actual future results to differ materially from growth and financial guidance. All forward-looking statements in this press release are expressly qualified by such cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Throughout this press release, the company presents financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as EBITDA, EBITDA from continuing operations, and adjusted gross margin, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The use of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as alternatives to earnings, operating income or operating cash flows. The company believes the use of these non-GAAP financial measures are beneficial in evaluating the company's financial performance due to its diverse operations. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section contained in this document for additional information.

 

 

 

Capital expenditures for 2021 include line-of-sight opportunities at the company's business segments. Future acquisitions would be incremental to the outlined capital program. Operating cash flows are projected to be $600 million to $650 million in 2021.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The company, in addition to presenting its earnings in conformity with GAAP, has provided non-GAAP financial measures of EBITDA by operating segment and EBITDA from continuing operations. The company defines EBITDA as net income (loss) attributable to the operating segment before interest; taxes; and depreciation, depletion and amortization; and EBITDA from continuing operations as income (loss) from continuing operations before interest; taxes; and depreciation, depletion and amortization.

The company presents EBITDA by operating segment and EBITDA from continuing operations on a consolidated basis in this news release. The company believes EBITDA and EBITDA from continuing operations are useful financial measures in providing meaningful information about operational efficiency compared to the company's peers by excluding the impacts of differences in tax jurisdictions and structures, debt levels and capital investment. The presentation of EBITDA and EBITDA from continuing operations also is provided for investment professionals who use such metrics in their analyses. The investment community often uses these metrics to assess the operating performance of a company's business and to provide a consistent comparison of performance from period to period. 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 GAAP net income to EBITDA from continuing operations. The reconciliation for each operating segment's EBITDA is included within each operating segment's condensed income statement.

The discussion that follows also includes adjusted gross margin, which is considered a non-GAAP financial measure as it relates to the company's electric and natural gas distribution segments. Adjusted gross margin can be used in addition to operating revenues and operating expenses when evaluating the results of operations for these segments. Adjusted gross margin for the electric and natural gas distribution segments is calculated by adding back adjustments to operating income (loss). These add-back adjustments include operation and maintenance expense; depreciation, depletion and amortization expense; and certain taxes, other than income.

The presentation of adjusted gross margin is intended to be a helpful supplemental financial measure for investors' understanding of the segments' operating performance. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, GAAP financial measures such as operating income (loss) or net income (loss). The company's adjusted gross margin may not be comparable to other companies' gross margin measures.

Adjusted gross margin includes operating revenues less the cost of electric fuel and purchased power, purchased natural gas sold and certain taxes, other than income. These taxes, other than income, included as a reduction to adjusted gross margin relate to revenue taxes. These segments pass on to their customers the increases and decreases in the wholesale cost of power purchases, natural gas and other fuel supply costs in accordance with regulatory requirements. As such, the segments' revenues are directly impacted by the fluctuations in such commodities. Revenue taxes, which are passed back to customers, fluctuate with revenues as they are calculated as a percentage of revenues. For these reasons, period over period, the segments' operating income (loss) is generally not impacted. The company's management believes the adjusted gross margin is a useful supplemental financial measure as these items are included in both operating revenues and operating expenses. The company's management also believes that adjusted gross margin and the remaining operating expenses that calculate operating income (loss) are useful in assessing the company's utility performance as management has the ability to influence control over the remaining operating expenses.

The following tables provide reconciliations of the company's electric and natural gas distribution segments' operating income to adjusted gross margin.

 

 

 

The electric business reported net income of $10.7 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $11.4 million for the same period in 2020. The decrease in net income was driven by higher operating expenses, primarily payroll-related costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense from transmission projects placed in service. Partially offsetting the decrease was higher other income, the result of increased investment returns on certain benefit plans. Adjusted gross margin increased from higher transmission revenues and higher revenues associated with transmission interconnect upgrades, which was partially offset by a 2.2% decrease in electric retail sales volumes, primarily from lower commercial and industrial volumes.

The electric business's EBITDA increased $500,000 in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 2020, primarily the result of higher other income and higher adjusted gross margin partially offset by higher operation and maintenance expense, as previously discussed.

 

The natural gas distribution business reported net income of $36.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $32.3 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in net income was primarily higher adjusted gross margin due to approved rate relief in certain jurisdictions, benefits from weather normalization and decoupling mechanisms, and a 1.8% increase in natural gas retail sales volumes, primarily to residential customers. Other income also increased during the quarter, the result of higher investment returns on certain benefit plans. Partially offsetting the increase in net income was higher operation and maintenance expense, primarily higher payroll-related costs. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense also increased during the quarter, the result of growth and replacement projects placed in service.

The natural gas distribution business's EBITDA increased $6.7 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 2020, primarily the result of higher adjusted gross margin and higher other income, partially offset by higher operation and maintenance expense, as previously discussed.

 

The pipeline business reported net income of $8.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $7.4 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in net income was driven by higher demand for the company's storage services. Other income also increased during the quarter, the result of higher allowance for funds used during construction and higher investment returns on certain benefit plans.

The pipeline business's EBITDA increased $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 2020, primarily from higher storage-related revenues, as previously discussed.

The construction services business reported net income of $29.8 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $16.8 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in net income was driven by higher outside specialty contracting workloads and margins from strong utility customer demand. Inside specialty contracting workloads decreased from lower customer demand for refinery projects. High-tech project demand remained strong for the inside electrical contracting business throughout the quarter. Income tax expense increased as a result of higher taxable income.

The prior year results included a negative $6.7 million out-of-period adjustment, after tax, made to correct revenue recognition on a project.

The construction services business's EBITDA increased $16.1 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 2020, primarily a result of the previously discussed increase in outside specialty contracting workloads and strong margins across the segment.

 

The construction materials and contracting business reported a seasonal loss of $30.8 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to a loss of $38.2 million in the same period in 2020. The decreased loss was the result of higher gross margin from increased materials pricing as well as higher contracting margins. Favorable weather in certain regions allowed for an early start to the construction season, which drove increases in material revenues. Selling, general and administrative expense decreased during the quarter, the result of lower bad debt expenses, offset in part by increased payroll-related costs.

The construction materials and contracting business's EBITDA increased $12.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 2020. The increased EBITDA was the result of higher gross margins, as previously discussed.

The net loss for Other reflects income tax adjustments related to the consolidated company's annualized estimated tax rate and higher depreciation, depletion and amortization expense in 2021 for software placed in service. General and administrative costs and interest expense previously allocated to the exploration and production and refining businesses that do not meet the criteria for income (loss) from discontinued operations also are included in Other.

 

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SOURCE MDU Resources Group, Inc.