MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) versus Electricité de France (OTCMKTS:ECIFY) Head-To-Head Comparison

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

Volatility and Risk

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

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Electricité de France and MDU Resources Group”s top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Electricité de France	$151.19 billion	0.35	-$18.90 billion	N/A	N/A
MDU Resources Group	$1.83 billion	2.31	$190.40 million	$0.95	21.74

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

Profitability

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

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

Institutional and Insider Ownership

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

Analyst Ratings

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

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

MDU Resources Group has a consensus target price of $23.40, suggesting a potential upside of 13.32%. Given MDU Resources Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe MDU Resources Group is more favorable than Electricité de France.

Summary

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

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.

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.