MDU Resources Group (NYSE: MDU) reported earnings on April 30. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended March 31 (Q1), MDU Resources Group beat expectations on revenues and beat expectations on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue increased. Non-GAAP earnings per share grew significantly. GAAP earnings per share increased significantly.

Margins increased across the board.

Revenue details
 MDU Resources Group notched revenue of $931.6 million. The two analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ anticipated sales of $899.3 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were 9.2% higher than the prior-year quarter's $852.8 million.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.28. The eight earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.23 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.28 for Q1 were 47% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.19 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.30 for Q1 were 58% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.19 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
 For the quarter, gross margin was 26.9%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 11.2%, 290 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 6.1%, 190 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. (Margins calculated in GAAP terms.)

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $1.03 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.24.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $4.23 billion. The average EPS estimate is $1.31.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a three-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 242 members out of 256 rating the stock outperform, and 14 members rating it underperform. Among 67 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 63 give MDU Resources Group a green thumbs-up, and four give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on MDU Resources Group is outperform, with an average price target of $25.67.

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