MDU RESOURCES GROUP INCMDU
MDU RESOURCES GROUP INC Fair Value Disclosure
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value ASC establishes a hierarchy for grouping assets and liabilities, based on the significance of inputs. The estimated fair values of the Company's assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis are determined using the market approach.
The Company measures its investments in certain fixed-income and equity securities at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in income. The Company anticipates using these investments, which consist of insurance contracts, to satisfy its obligations under its unfunded, nonqualified defined benefit and defined contribution plans for executive officers and certain key management employees and invests in these fixed-income and equity securities for the purpose of earning investment returns and capital appreciation. These investments, which totaled $67.4 million and $59.3 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively, are classified as Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The net unrealized gain on these investments for the year ended December 31, 2025, 2024, and 2023 was $6.6 million, $5.9 million, and $7.4 million, respectively. The change in fair value, which is considered part of the cost of the plan, is classified in Other income on the Consolidated Statements of Income. In the second quarter of 2025 the Company withdrew $5.0 million of cash in excess of 125 percent of the full funding amount, which had no effect on the cost basis of the investments held. In the first quarter of 2024 the Company withdrew $9.0 million of its cost basis, which reduced Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
The Company did not elect the fair value option, which records gains and losses in income, for its available-for-sale securities, which include mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury securities. These available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value and are classified as Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Unrealized gains or losses are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Details of available-for-sale securities were as follows:
| December 31, 2025 | Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | $ | 8,539 | $ | 28 | $ | 204 | $ | 8,363 | ||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities | 3,992 | 33 | — | 4,025 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 12,531 | $ | 61 | $ | 204 | $ | 12,388 | ||||||
| December 31, 2024 | Cost | Gross Unrealized Gains | Gross Unrealized Losses | Fair Value | ||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | $ | 7,933 | $ | 4 | $ | 383 | $ | 7,554 | ||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities | 3,945 | 80 | 1 | 4,024 | ||||||||||
| Total | $ | 11,878 | $ | 84 | $ | 384 | $ | 11,578 | ||||||
The Company's assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2025, Using | ||||||||||||||
| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Balance at December 31, 2025 | |||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | — | $ | 9,839 | $ | — | $ | 9,839 | ||||||
| Insurance contracts* | — | 67,409 | — | 67,409 | ||||||||||
| Available-for-sale securities: | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | — | 8,363 | — | 8,363 | ||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities | — | 4,025 | — | 4,025 | ||||||||||
| Total assets measured at fair value | $ | — | $ | 89,636 | $ | — | $ | 89,636 | ||||||
*The insurance contracts invest approximately 57 percent in fixed-income investments, 18 percent in common stock of large-cap companies, 10 percent in target date investments, 7 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 4 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 3 percent in cash equivalents, and 1 percent in international investments.
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2024, Using | ||||||||||||||
| Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Balance at December 31, 2024 | |||||||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||||
| Money market funds | $ | — | $ | 12,879 | $ | — | $ | 12,879 | ||||||
| Insurance contracts* | — | 59,282 | — | 59,282 | ||||||||||
| Available-for-sale securities: | ||||||||||||||
| Mortgage-backed securities | — | 7,554 | — | 7,554 | ||||||||||
| U.S. Treasury securities | — | 4,024 | — | 4,024 | ||||||||||
| Total assets measured at fair value | $ | — | $ | 83,739 | $ | — | $ | 83,739 | ||||||
*The insurance contracts invest approximately 58 percent in fixed-income investments, 17 percent in common stock of large-cap companies, 8 percent in target date investments, 8 percent in common stock of mid-cap companies, 4 percent in common stock of small-cap companies, 4 percent in cash equivalents, and 1 percent in international investments.
The Company's money market funds are valued at the net asset value of shares held at the end of the period, based on published market quotations on active markets, or using other known sources including pricing from outside sources. The estimated fair value of the Company's mortgage-backed securities and U.S. Treasury securities are based on comparable market transactions, other observable inputs or other sources, including pricing from outside sources. The estimated fair value of the Company's insurance contracts are based on contractual cash surrender values that are determined primarily by investments in managed separate accounts of the insurer. These amounts approximate fair value. The managed separate accounts are valued based on other observable inputs or corroborated market data.
Though the Company believes the methods used to estimate fair value are consistent with those used by other market participants, the use of other methods or assumptions could result in a different estimate of fair value.
The Company applies the provisions of the fair value measurement standard to its nonrecurring, non-financial measurements, including long-lived asset impairments. These assets are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances. The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets, excluding goodwill, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that such carrying amounts may not be recoverable.
The Company's long-term debt is not measured at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and the fair value is being provided for disclosure purposes only. The fair value was categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy and was based on discounted future cash flows using current market interest rates. The estimated fair value of the Company's Level 2 long-term debt at December 31 was as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| (In thousands) | ||||||||
| Carrying Amount | $ | 2,676,855 | $ | 2,292,610 | ||||
| Fair Value | $ | 2,385,170 | $ | 1,963,396 | ||||
The carrying amounts of the Company's remaining financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities approximate their fair values.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 20, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Feb 20, 2025 | |
| 2023 | Feb 22, 2024 | |
| 2022 | Feb 24, 2023 | |
| 2021 | Feb 23, 2022 | |
| 2020 | Feb 19, 2021 | |
| 2019 | Feb 21, 2020 | |
| 2018 | Feb 22, 2019 | |
| 2017 | Feb 23, 2018 | |
| 2016 | Feb 24, 2017 | |
| 2015 | Feb 19, 2016 | |
About Fair Value Disclosures
Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.
Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.