How did MDU's revenue and expenses trend in Q4 2024 compared to previous quarters?

**MDU Resources Group Inc. experienced a significant decline in revenue and a slight increase in expenses in Q4 2024 compared to the previous quarter.**

1. **Revenue Trend**:
- MDU's revenue for Q4 2024 was -$1.55 billion, which is a substantial decrease from the previous quarter's revenue of $1.05 billion.
- The company's revenue had also been on a downward trend with the third quarter's revenue being $1.05 billion, similar to the fourth quarter's figures.
- However, it's important to note that the expected revenue for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, was estimated to be $653.135 million, which is a decrease from the previous year's $1.21 billion.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Total Revenue YoY|Total Revenue|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|MDU|MDU.N|MDU Resources Group|2024 Q1|-15.122949616040298|1.213825E9|169|
|MDU|MDU.N|MDU Resources Group|2024 Q2|-3.994130833652575|1.047545E9|169|
|MDU|MDU.N|MDU Resources Group|2024 Q3|4.968150320495206|1.050516E9|169|
|MDU|MDU.N|MDU Resources Group|2024 Q4|9.586493726537062|-1.553908E9|169|

2. **Expense Trend**:
- Unfortunately, there are no available data on MDU's expenses for Q4 2024.
- However, the third quarter's adjusted income from continuing operations was $65.5 million, compared to $58.6 million in the previous year.
- This suggests a slight increase in expenses or a more efficient management of costs, as the net income margin did not significantly decrease despite the revenue drop.
3. **Comparative Analysis**:
- The decrease in revenue can be attributed to various factors, including market conditions, operational efficiency, and strategic decisions.
- The increase in net income margin or adjusted income from continuing operations could indicate that MDU has been successful in managing its costs effectively despite the revenue decline.
4. **Future Outlook**:
- MDU is expected to report a 46.2% decrease in revenue for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, which would suggest a continuation of the revenue decline trend.
- The company's long-term earnings per share growth rate outlook is positive, with an anticipated 6% to 8% compound annual growth following the spinoff of the construction services business.

In conclusion, MDU Resources Group Inc. faced a challenging quarter in terms of revenue, but managed to show resilience in terms of net income margin or adjusted income from continuing operations. The company's future outlook appears positive, with expectations of growth in earnings per share in the long term.