MDU Resources Group (MDU) will increase its quarterly dividend by 2.5 percent to $0.2025 per share in the fourth quarter of 2018. This is the 28th consecutive year of dividend increases by the gas utility.

The increased quarterly dividend is payable January 1, 2019, to stockholders of record December 13, 2018. A new annualized dividend of$0.81 per share yields 3.1% at a stock price of $26.30.

"We take great pride in our long history of paying competitive dividends as part of our commitment to providing value to our investors," said Harry J. Pearce, chair of the board.

This is the 28th consecutive year that MDU Resources has increased its common stock dividend and the 81st year the company has paid uninterrupted dividends to shareholders.

MDU Resources Group is a gas utility providing products and services through its regulated energy delivery and construction materials and services businesses. The Company's businesses segments are electric, natural gas distribution, pipeline and midstream, construction materials and contracting, and construction services. The construction services segment provides utility construction services in constructing and maintaining electric and communication lines, and external lighting and traffic signalization.