Reviewing MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) & AuraSource (OTCMKTS:ARAO)

AuraSource (OTCMKTS:ARAO) and MDU Resources Group (NYSE:MDU) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, risk, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares AuraSource 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
AuraSource	N/A	N/A	N/A	($0.05)	-0.01
MDU Resources Group	$1.83 billion	2.22	$190.40 million	$0.95	20.86

MDU Resources Group has higher revenue and earnings than AuraSource. AuraSource is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than MDU Resources Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

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

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

Insider & Institutional Ownership

22.2% of AuraSource shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 71.4% of MDU Resources Group shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.7% of AuraSource shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 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 company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for AuraSource and MDU Resources Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
AuraSource	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 18.06%. Given MDU Resources Group’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe MDU Resources Group is more favorable than AuraSource.

Summary

MDU Resources Group beats AuraSource on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About AuraSource

AuraSource, Inc. focuses on sales of electric automobiles. It operates through two segments, AuraMetal and AuraMoto. The AuraMetal segment focuses on the development and production of environmentally friendly and beneficiation process for complex ore, tailings, and slimes materials as industrial application solutions. The AuraMoto segment focuses on sourcing various vendors and customers in the automotive industry. AuraSource, Inc. is based in Tempe, Arizona.

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.