MDU Resources Group, Inc.&nbsp;Business Reports

Natural Gas Distribution & Marketing Industry Report

Overview

The US natural gas distribution industry includes about 450 companies with combined annual revenue of about $130 billion. Major companies include CenterPoint Energy, NiSource, and Sempra Energy, as well as natural gas distribution subsidiaries of companies such as Dominion Resources and ONEOK. The industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for about 90 percent of revenue.

SIC: 4923

NAICS: 221210

Sample Questions & Answers

How does the company hedge against price changes?

Because of changing crude oil prices and distribution bottlenecks, prices for natural gas can vary substantially from month to month. In the last few years, the average US wellhead price varied from $2 to $10 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf). Price...

What new or prospective regulations concern the company the most?

State and federal regulators control the interstate distribution and retail pricing of natural gas. Pricing regulations can affect profitability, because distributors can't easily pass on higher costs to customers. In recent years, the goal of...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Natural Gas Distribution & Marketing Industry Report

Commercial & Heavy Construction Contractors Industry Report

Overview

The US commercial and heavy construction contractors industry includes about 80,000 firms with combined annual revenue of about $545 billion. Major companies include Bechtel, Fluor, Jacobs Engineering, Peter Kiewit Sons', and Turner Construction. The industry is highly fragmented.

SIC: 1623, 6552, 1622, 1611, 1541, 1522, 1389

NAICS: 236210, 236220, 237110, 237120, 237130, 237210, 237310, 237990

Sample Questions & Answers

What strategies does the firm use to protect against slowdowns in construction activity?

A tight financing environment for construction loans has made a once booming industry slow significantly. The slowdown in commercial construction activity has made work for contractors scarce in certain sectors. Many companies try to protect against...

How seasonal or erratic is the company's cash flow?

Although commercial contractors incur a steady stream of expenses, payments from customers are periodic, including amounts retained until after a project is complete. Bad weather can significantly delay construction schedules, creating uneven cash...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Commercial & Heavy Construction Contractors Industry Report

Electric Power Transmission, Distribution & Marketing Industry Report

Overview

The US electric power transmission and distribution (electric energy distribution) industry includes about 1,200 companies with combined annual revenue of about $450 billion. Major companies include American Electric Power, Exelon, NextEra Energy, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Southern Company. The industry is highly concentrated: the 50 largest companies account for more than 80 percent of revenue.

SIC: 4911

NAICS: 221122, 221121

Sample Questions & Answers

How do economic shifts in the company's service area impact energy demand?

Although some portions of electricity demand, such as for residential and commercial use, tend to increase steadily, US industrial use varies with the level of economic activity. However, in the recession of the late 2000s, even though residential...

How are changes in regulation impacting the company?

In most markets, the rates electricity distributors can charge are regulated by state public utility commissions (PUCs). Rates are usually set to enable the distributor to earn an appropriate ROI, but winning rate increases to reflect higher costs...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Electric Power Transmission, Distribution & Marketing Industry Report

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining & Quarrying Industry Report

Overview

The nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying industry in the US includes about 3,300 companies with annual revenues of about $22 billion. Major companies include Vulcan Materials, Martin Marietta Materials, and subsidiaries of foreign firms such as Lehigh Hanson and Oldcastle Materials. The industry is fragmented, with many small firms serving local geographic markets.

SIC: 1411, 1499, 1481, 1479, 1422, 1423, 1429, 1442, 1446, 1455, 1459, 1474, 1475

NAICS: 212311, 213115, 212399, 212393, 212312, 212313, 212319, 212321, 212322, 212324, 212325, 212391, 212392

Sample Questions & Answers

Local construction activity, which can be highly cyclical, determines demand for nonmetallic mineral mining companies.About 50 percent of US demand is for private commercial and residential construction projects. Job growth and vacancy rates...

About half of nonmetallic mining demand is driven by public works' spending on highways and public buildings. Local projects depend on government budgets and priorities, which can change with each election. Because publicly funded projects depend on...

To read this full Call Prep Question and others, purchase the full report.

General Report Description

Save valuable research time, increase confidence on sales calls, and get the competitive edge to win more business with Hoover's Industry Report. Proprietary editorial analysis synthesizes hundreds of sources into an easy-to-digest format so that you can quickly understand a client's business challenges. Insight into critical business issues, industry trends and opportunities, and financial benchmarks is an integral part of each report.

Sections Included in Report

Industry Overview
Quarterly Industry Update
Business Challenges
Trends and Opportunities
Call Preparation Questions
Financial Information
Industry Forecast
Website and Media Links
Glossary of Acronyms

Industry Report Highlights:

Recent Developments
Stay up to date on crucial industry news that may affect your strategy.
Trends & Opportunities
Identify avenues for expansion and get prospects thinking about growth opportunities that justify investing in your product.
Call Preparation Questions
Gain instant rapport with prospects during your sales calls using done-for-you call preparation questions.
Industry Forecast
Identify growth and integrate projections in your own business planning.

Business Challenges
Engage your prospects with solution selling that makes their life easier by first understanding their pain points.
Executive Insight
Identify the correct decision maker and tailor your presentation to his or her needs, and maximize the effectiveness of your pitch.
Financial Information
Increase your credibility and support your presentations by adding verifiable industry metrics.
Web Links & Acronyms
Speak the Prospect's language by demonstrating an understanding of industry trade associations and jargon.

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining & Quarrying Industry Report