8-K

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 17, 2012

MDU Resources Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-3480	41-0423660
(State or other jurisdiction of	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation)

1200 West Century Avenue

P.O. Box 5650

Bismarck, North Dakota 58506-5650

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (701) 530-1000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition and

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 17, 2012, MDU Resources Group, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing preliminary first quarter 2012 results and reaffirmed earnings guidance. A copy of the press release, which the Company is furnishing to the Securities and Exchange Commission, is attached as Exhibit 99 and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)	Exhibits
	99	Press release issued April 17, 2012, announcing preliminary first quarter 2012 results and reaffirmed earnings guidance.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	MDU RESOURCES GROUP, INC.
Date  April 17, 2012	By /s/ Nicole A. Kivisto
	Nicole A. Kivisto
	Vice President, Controller and
	Chief Accounting Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number	Description of Exhibit
99	Press release issued April 17, 2012, announcing preliminary first quarter 2012 results and reaffirmed earnings guidance.

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EX-99

MDU Resources Announces Preliminary First Quarter Results,

Oil Production Grows 19% and Rig Count Reaches 10,

Advance Determination of Prudence Approved for Natural Gas Plant,

Reaffirms 2012 Earnings Guidance

BISMARCK, N.D. - April 17, 2012 - MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) today announced preliminary unaudited financial results for the first quarter of 2012. The company expects to report first quarter earnings of approximately 19 cents per share, at the upper end of the first quarter earnings guidance range provided in February.

“We are pushing the upper range of our guidance, even with some weather and pricing challenges, which is a good indication of the strength of our operations,” said Terry D. Hildestad, president and chief executive officer of MDU Resources.

“Our utility operations experienced weather that was generally warmer than normal throughout the eight-state service territory compared to colder than normal temperatures in 2011,” Hildestad said. “In addition, our exploration and production company was affected by low realized natural gas prices during the quarter along with a widening of Bakken wellhead oil pricing spreads in March, compared to WTI posted prices. However, the price spread for April has improved, and forecasts indicate continued improvement throughout 2012.

“Our businesses are making good progress in executing their 2012 business plans,” Hildestad said. “Our construction services group had a strong quarter and we are making changes we believe will improve results at our construction materials business. Our pipeline storage group continued to be affected by the narrow natural gas pricing differentials. However, we are finding opportunities to invest in this segment as it expands into the liquids side of the midstream business. Our utility recently received approval for advance determination of prudence for our estimated $85 million investment into an 88-megawatt natural gas generation facility. This is a significant investment included in our approximate $915 million five-year utility capital growth program.”

Hildestad noted that the company's exploration and production business is on track to reach its 2012 targeted oil production increase of 20 percent to 30 percent over last year. Strong oil production growth during the latter part of the first quarter, primarily at Fidelity's Bakken operations, helped drive the company's overall oil production to approximately 10,500 barrels per day. This is an increase of approximately 19 percent from the same period a year earlier. The company has eight more oil rigs than a year ago, with a total of 10 rigs operating across its properties today. Five rigs are operating in the prolific

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Bakken, where the company holds approximately 124,000 net leasehold acres and has plans to invest approximately 40 percent of Fidelity's capital this year.

“With our natural gas properties being held by production and gas prices reaching 10-year lows, we believe it is prudent to curtail gas production into an over-supplied market and focus our efforts on our substantial liquids-based opportunities,” Hildestad said.

Based on the company's projections for the remainder of 2012, annual earnings guidance is reaffirmed in the range of $1.00 to $1.25. This guidance includes assumptions for NYMEX natural gas prices in the range of $2.25 to $2.75 per Mcf and NYMEX oil prices in the range of $95 to $105 per barrel.

“We are committed to growing our company. We are executing on our strategy and that gives us optimism about a bright future for the company,” Hildestad added.

Conference Call

Following the company's release of first quarter earnings on April 30, a webcast and conference call to discuss results will be held May 1 beginning at 11 a.m. EDT and can be accessed at www.mdu.com. Webcast and audio replays will be available. The dial-in number for audio replay is (855) 859-2056, or (404) 537-3406 for international callers, conference ID 66804286.

Forward-Looking Statement

The information in this release includes certain forward-looking statements, including statements by the president and chief executive officer of MDU Resources, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although the company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results may differ materially. For a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, refer to Item 1A - Risk Factors in MDU Resources' most recent Form 10-K.

About MDU Resources

MDU Resources Group, Inc., a member of the S&P MidCap 400 index, provides value-added natural resource products and related services that are essential to energy and transportation infrastructure, including regulated utilities and pipelines, exploration and production, and construction materials and services companies. For more information about MDU Resources, see the company's Web site at www.mdu.com or contact the Investor Relations Department at investor@mduresources.com.

Contacts

Financial: Phyllis A. Rittenbach, director - investor relations, (701) 530-1057

Media: Rick Matteson, director of communications and public affairs, (701) 530-1700

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