MDU Resources Reports Strong First Quarter Results; Affirms 2024 Guidance

BISMARCK, N.D., May 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

• Pipeline has record first quarter earnings, up 82%.
• Utility first quarter earnings up 4%.
• Everus reports 8% earnings increase, record first quarter EBITDA and all-time record backlog.
• 2024 guidance affirmed: Regulated energy delivery earnings in the range of $170 million to $180 million; Everus revenues of $2.9 billion to $3.1 billion with EBITDA of $220 million to $240 million.

MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) today reported strong first quarter results from its utility, pipeline and construction services businesses, and it affirmed its 2024 guidance.

"Thanks to the continued dedication and hard work of our employees providing essential services to our customers, we finished the first quarter with strong performance across our businesses," said Nicole A. Kivisto, president and CEO of MDU Resources. "Our regulated pipeline business had outstanding results, with record first quarter transportation volumes and strong demand for its storage services; rate relief and higher electric retail sales volumes contributed to strong utility results; and Everus closed the quarter with record EBITDA and all-time record backlog. With our strong first quarter results, we are affirming our guidance for 2024."

The following table summarizes the company's first quarter results:

 

"We continue to work toward finalizing the spinoff of Everus Construction Group, expected late this year, as we strive to become a pure-play regulated energy delivery business and shift our focus to our CORE strategy," Kivisto said. Additional information about MDU Resources' CORE strategy can be found in the company's March 13 investor day presentation at www.mdu.com.

Regulated Energy Delivery Highlights

Electric and Natural Gas Utility

The electric and natural gas utility earned $58.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $55.5 million in the first quarter of 2023. Results were driven by:

• Approved rate relief in certain electric and natural gas jurisdictions.
• Electric retail sales volumes increasing 8% compared to first quarter 2023, primarily from electricity usage at a data center that began operating in the company's service territory in mid-2023.
• Natural gas retail sales volumes decreasing 7% compared to first quarter 2023, largely related to warmer weather across the company's service territory.

The utility, which serves 1.2 million customers, experienced 1.4% customer growth when compared to the first quarter of 2023.

Regulatory update:

• On Aug. 15, 2023, the utility filed with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission an electric rate case requesting a revenue increase of $3 million, or 17.3%, and a natural gas rate case requesting a revenue increase of $7.4 million, or 11.2%. The requests are pending decisions by the commission. On March 1, 2024, the utility implemented interim electric rates that increase annual revenue $2.7 million, or 15.4%, and interim natural gas rates that increase annual revenue $7.4 million, or 11.2%. The interim rates are subject to refund based on the commission's decisions in the cases.
• On Oct. 2, 2023, the utility filed with the North Dakota Public Service Commission an electric service agreement request to serve an additional data center that is expected to be online in mid-2024 in the utility's service territory. The request is pending a decision by the commission.
• On Nov. 1, 2023, the utility filed with the North Dakota Public Service Commission a natural gas rate case requesting a revenue increase of $11.6 million, or 7.5%. The utility implemented interim natural gas rates effective Jan. 1, 2024, increasing annual revenue $10.1 million, or 6.5%. The interim rates are subject to refund based on the commission's decision in the case.
• On March 29, 2024, the utility filed with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission a multiyear natural gas rate case requesting an annual revenue increase of $43.8 million, or 11.6%, effective March 1, 2025, and $11.7 million, or 2.8%, effective March 1, 2026. The request is pending a decision by the commission.
• The utility expects to file natural gas rate cases in Montana, Oregon and Wyoming in 2024.

The company's new Heskett Unit IV, an 88-megawatt natural gas-fired electric generating facility near Mandan, North Dakota, is expected to be online in the second quarter.

Pipeline

The pipeline had record first quarter earnings of $15.1 million, up 82% compared to $8.3 million in first quarter 2023. Results were driven by:

• Record first quarter transportation volumes, primarily from expansion projects that were placed in service in late 2023 and early 2024.
• Higher revenue from new transportation and storage rates, as approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, that were effective Aug. 1, 2023.
• Strong demand for natural gas storage services.

The pipeline business has a number of growth projects, including:

• The Line Section 27 expansion project in northwestern North Dakota, which was placed in service March 1, 2024, and added 175 million cubic feet of natural gas transportation capacity per day.
• The Line Section 28 expansion project, which is expected to add 137 million cubic feet of natural gas transportation capacity per day and serve a natural gas-fired power plant in northwestern North Dakota. Construction of the project began in April 2024 and is expected to be in service in the third quarter of 2024.
• The Wahpeton expansion project in eastern North Dakota, which is expected to add approximately 20 million cubic feet of natural gas transportation capacity per day. Construction is expected to begin in June, with the project expected to be in service in late 2024.
• A number of future expansions that are in early planning stages.

Construction Services Highlights

Everus had revenues of $625.7 million and earnings of $28.2 million in the first quarter, compared to record quarterly revenues of $754.3 million and earnings of $26.1 million in the first quarter of 2023. The business also had record EBITDA of $46.9 million in the first quarter, compared to EBITDA of $43.5 million in the first quarter of 2023.

Results were driven by:

• Higher demand for utility-related transmission and underground work.
• Strong demand for institutional-related electrical and mechanical work, particularly government and health care projects.
• Margin improvement from efficiency gains on projects and increased transmission and distribution workloads.
• The absence of certain hospitality-related projects that were completed in late 2023.
• Higher selling, general and administrative costs.

Everus' backlog was an all-time record $2.18 billion at March 31, compared to $2.10 billion as of March 31, 2023.

As previously announced, MDU Resources is working toward a tax-free spinoff of Everus into a separate, publicly traded company. The spinoff is expected to be complete in late 2024.

Discontinued Operations and Adjusted Earnings

On May 31, 2023, MDU Resources completed the spinoff of Knife River Corporation, which became an independent, publicly traded company. MDU Resources has reported Knife River's results and the transaction costs and certain interest expenses associated with the spinoff as discontinued operations, and MDU Resources' prior period results have been restated to reflect the spinoff.

MDU Resources is reporting adjusted income from continuing operations and adjusted earnings per share that exclude the costs associated with its strategic initiatives. 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

Because of MDU Resources' ongoing strategic initiatives, the company is providing guidance for 2024 results by business. Guidance does not include transaction costs associated with the strategic initiatives or costs associated with standing up the construction services business as a public company. For 2024, MDU Resources expects:

• Earnings from its regulated energy delivery businesses in the range of $170 million to $180 million.
• Construction services revenues in the range of $2.9 billion to $3.1 billion, with margins comparable to 2023, and EBITDA of $220 million to $240 million.

The expected 2024 results are based on these assumptions:

• Normal weather for the remainder of the year, including precipitation and temperatures, across all company markets.
• Normal 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 planned equity issuances.

Conference Call

MDU Resources' management will discuss on a webcast at 2 p.m. EST today the company's first quarter results. The webcast can be accessed at www.mdu.com under the "Investors" heading. Select "Events & Presentations," and click on "Q1 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 MidCap 400 index, provides essential products and services through its regulated energy delivery and construction services businesses. Founded in 1924, the company is celebrating its 100th anniversary, learn more at www.mdu.com/100th-anniversary. For more information about MDU Resources, visit 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: Brent Miller, assistant treasurer, 701-530-1730

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news 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 the company's projections, including estimates for growth, shareholder value creation and financial guidance or other proposed strategies such as the pursuit of a tax-free spinoff of its construction services business and proposed future structure of a pure-play regulated energy delivery company will be achieved. Please refer to assumptions contained in this news 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 Securities and Exchange Commission.

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 news 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. Except as required by law, the company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Throughout this news release, the company presents financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as EBITDA by operating segment, EBITDA from continuing operations, adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, 2024 EBITDA guidance, adjusted income from continuing operations, and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, which are considered non-GAAP financial measures. The use of these non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as alternatives to earnings, earnings per share, 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, its impacts related to the non-recurring costs associated with strategic initiatives. Please refer to the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section contained in this document for additional information.

 

 

 

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, including the proposed separation of Everus.

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, EBITDA from continuing operations, adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations, 2024 EBITDA guidance, adjusted income from continuing operations, and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations. The company defines EBITDA as net income (loss) attributable to the operating segment before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization, EBITDA from continuing operations as income (loss) from continuing operations before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization, and adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations as income (loss) from continuing operations before interest, taxes, and depreciation and amortization before any transaction-related impacts from strategic initiatives. 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 and adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations as earnings per share from continuing operations before any transaction-related impacts from strategic initiatives.

The company believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful information to investors about operational efficiency compared to the company's peers by excluding the impacts of differences in tax jurisdictions and structures, debt levels, capital investment and the non-recurring costs associated with the company's strategic initiatives. 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 tables provide a reconciliation of consolidated income from continuing operations to adjusted income from continuing operations, earnings per share from continuing operations to adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations, GAAP net income to EBITDA from continuing operations, and GAAP net income to adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations for actual as well as forecasted results, as applicable. The reconciliation for each operating segment's EBITDA is included within each operating segment's condensed income statement.

 

 

 

 

 

The electric business reported net income of $17.9 million in the first quarter, compared to $16.6 million for the same period in 2023. This increase was largely the result of higher retail sales revenue due to rate relief in North Dakota and Montana, and providing power to a data center near Ellendale, North Dakota. The increase was partially offset by lower residential volumes and higher operation and maintenance expense, primarily contract services costs.

The previous table also reflects items that are passed through to customers resulting in minimal impact to earnings. These items include $8.2 million in higher electric fuel and purchased power costs, which increased both operating revenues and electric fuel and purchased power; and higher depreciation and amortization expense driven largely by increased rates and coal-fired electric generating facility plant closures, which was offset in operating revenues.

The electric business's EBITDA increased $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 2023, primarily the result of higher retail sales revenue, partially offset by lower residential volumes and higher operation and maintenance expense, as previously discussed.

 

 

The natural gas distribution business reported net income of $40.1 million in the first quarter, compared to $38.9 million for the same period in 2023. The increase was largely the result of interim rate relief in North Dakota and South Dakota, higher interest income and increased transportation revenue, primarily to serve electric generation and industrial customers. These increases were offset in part by a 7% decrease in retail sales volumes to all customer classes due to warmer weather, which was partially offset by weather normalization and decoupling mechanisms. Also decreasing net income was higher depreciation expense, primarily due to increased asset additions, and higher operation and maintenance expense, primarily higher contract services costs and increased software-related expenses.

The previous table also reflects items that are passed through to customers resulting in minimal impact to earnings. These items include $108.5 million in lower natural gas costs, which decreased both operating revenues and purchased natural gas sold, and $2.1 million in lower revenue-based taxes that decreased both operating revenues and taxes, other than income.

The natural gas distribution business's EBITDA increased $5.4 million in the first quarter, compared to 2023, primarily the result of rate relief, higher interest income and increased transportation revenue, partially offset by lower retail sales volumes and higher operation and maintenance expense, as previously discussed.

 

 

The pipeline business reported record net income of $15.1 million in the first quarter, compared to $8.3 million for the same period in 2023. The earnings increase was driven by higher transportation volumes, primarily from organic growth projects placed in service in November 2023 and March 2024, and increased contracted volume commitments beginning February 2023 from the North Bakken Expansion project. New transportation and storage service rates effective Aug. 1, 2023, and higher storage-related revenue further drove the increase. The increase was offset in part by higher operation and maintenance expense primarily attributable to payroll-related costs. The business also incurred higher interest expense as a result of higher debt balances and interest rates.

The pipeline business's EBITDA increased $9.9 million in the first quarter, compared to 2023, primarily from higher transportation and storage revenues, partially offset by higher operating costs, as previously discussed.

 

The construction services business reported lower first quarter revenues. Electrical and mechanical revenues were impacted by the absence of hospitality-related projects that were completed in late 2023, partially offset by higher institutional workloads, particularly health care and government projects. Transmission and distribution revenues increased year over year with higher demand for utility workloads, primarily related to transmission, substation and underground projects, and higher transportation workloads, particularly traffic signalization and street lighting projects.

The construction services business reported record first quarter net income of $28.2 million, compared to $26.1 million for the same period in 2023. Margins at the construction services business increased, largely in the utility market, due to efficiencies in labor and equipment utilization. The business was negatively impacted by higher selling, general and administrative costs, including increased rent expense, higher payroll-related costs, increased professional services expenses and decreased other income related to joint ventures.

The construction services business's EBITDA increased $3.4 million in the first quarter, primarily from higher margins, as previously discussed. Slightly offsetting the increase was higher selling, general and administrative costs, as previously discussed.

 

Construction services backlog at March 31 was an all-time record with transmission and distribution backlog up 7% and electrical and mechanical backlog up 3% compared to March 31, 2023. The business has secured additional projects to replace backlog projects that have been completed or are nearing the end of the project life cycle.

On May 31, 2023, the company completed the separation of Knife River, its former construction materials and contracting business, into a new publicly traded company. As a result of the separation, the historical results of operations for Knife River are shown in income (loss) from discontinued operations, except for allocated general corporate overhead costs of the company, which do not meet the criteria for discontinued operations. Also included in discontinued operations are strategic initiative costs associated with the separation of Knife River.

During the first quarter, Other experienced an income tax benefit from income tax adjustments related to the company's annualized estimated tax rate. Other also benefited from increased interest income and lower operation and maintenance expense. Decreased operation and maintenance expense is 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. These benefits were partially offset by higher interest expense related to debt issued in connection with the company's strategic initiative costs.

Also included in Other are general and administrative costs and interest expense previously allocated to the exploration and production and refining businesses that do not meet the criteria for discontinued operations.

 

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SOURCE MDU Resources Group, Inc.