Electricité de France (OTCMKTS:ECIFY) & MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) Financial Analysis

MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) and Electricité de France (OTCMKTS:ECIFY) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares MDU Resources Group and Electricité de France’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
MDU Resources Group	10.75%	6.89%	2.58%
Electricité de France	N/A	N/A	N/A

Volatility and Risk

MDU Resources Group has a beta of 0.67, meaning that its stock price is 33% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Electricité de France has a beta of 1.26, meaning that its stock price is 26% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

71.4% of MDU Resources Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of MDU Resources Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent recommendations for MDU Resources Group and Electricité de France, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
MDU Resources Group	0	4	3	0	2.43
Electricité de France	0	0	0	0	0.00

MDU Resources Group currently has a consensus target price of $23.40, suggesting a potential upside of 15.16%. Given MDU Resources Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe MDU Resources Group is more favorable than Electricité de France.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares MDU Resources Group and Electricité de France”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
MDU Resources Group	$1.88 billion	2.22	$190.40 million	$0.95	21.39
Electricité de France	$151.19 billion	0.35	-$18.90 billion	N/A	N/A

MDU Resources Group has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Electricité de France.

Summary

MDU Resources Group beats Electricité de France on 10 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About MDU Resources Group

MDU Resources Group, Inc. engages in the regulated energy delivery, and construction materials and services businesses in the United States. It operates through four segments: Electric, Natural Gas Distribution, Pipeline, and Construction Services. The Electric segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and operates 3,400 miles of transmission lines, 4,800 miles of distribution lines, and 82 transmission and 298 distribution substations. The Natural Gas Distribution segment distributes natural gas for residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming; and supplies related value-added services. The Pipeline segment provides natural gas transportation and underground storage services through a regulated pipeline system primarily in the Rocky Mountain and northern Great Plains regions; and cathodic protection and other energy-related services. The Construction Services segment offers electrical and mechanical contracting services, including the construction and maintenance of electrical and communication wiring and infrastructure, fire suppression systems, mechanical piping, and services; transmission and distribution contracting services, comprise construction and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical, and gas and communication infrastructure; and manufactures and supplies transmission and distribution lines construction equipment and tools. It serves manufacturing, commercial, industrial, transportation, institutional, and renewable and government customers, as well as utilities. MDU Resources Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1924 and is headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota.

About Electricité de France

Electricité de France S.A., an integrated energy company, engages in the power generation, transmission, distribution, supply, and trading activities in France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and internationally. The company generates electricity through nuclear, fossil fuel, hydro, solar, wind, biomass, biogas, thermal, and cogeneration plants. It also manages low and medium-voltage public electricity distribution networks; operates, maintains, and develops high-voltage and very-high-voltage electricity transmission networks; and services and produces equipment and fuel for nuclear reactors. In addition, the company is involved in commodity trading activities; and the provision of energy services, including district heating services, thermal energy services, etc. It serves approximately 38.5 million customers, including small businesses, local authorities, and industrial and residential customers. The company was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Paris, France.