MDU Resources Group, Inc.

Hello, my name is Lisa and I will be your conference facilitator. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the MDU Resource Group 2022 third quarter conference call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speaker's remarks, there will be a question and answer period. If you would like to ask a question during this time, simply press star then the number one on your telephone keypad. If you would like to withdraw your question, press star then the number two on the telephone keypad. The webcast can be accessed at www.mdu.com under the Investor Relations heading. Select Events and Presentations and click Q3 2022 Earnings Conference Call. After the conclusion of the webcast, a replay will be available at the same location. I would now like to turn the conference over to Jason Vollmer, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MDU Resource Group. Thank you, Mr. Vollmer. You may now begin your conference.

Thank you, Lisa, and welcome, everyone, to our third quarter 2022 earnings conference call. You can find our earnings release and supplemental materials for this call on our website at www.mdu.com under the Investor Relations tab. Meeting today's discussion along with me will be Dave Gooden, President and Chief Executive Officer of MDU Resources. Also along with us today to answer questions following our prepared remarks will be Dave Barney, President and CEO of Knife River Corporation, Jeff Thede, President and CEO of MDU Construction Services Group, Nicole Cavisto, President and CEO of our Utility Group, Trevor Hastings, President and CEO of WBI Energy, and Stephanie Barth, Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller of MDU Resources. During our call this morning, we will make certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Although the company believes that its expectations and beliefs are based on reasonable assumptions, actual results may differ materially. For more information about the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from any forward-looking statements, please refer to our most recent SEC filings. We may also refer to certain non-GAAP information. For reconciliation of any non-GAAP information to the appropriate GAAP metric, please reference our earnings release. As a reminder from our second quarter earnings call, we have previously announced our plan to separate Knife River Corporation, which is expected to be affected through a tax-free spinoff to MDU Resources shareholders. This transaction is well underway and expected to become complete in 2023. Today we are also announcing that MDU Resources Board of Directors has authorized management to commence a strategic review intended to separate MDU Resources into two pure-play publicly traded entities, one being a regulated energy delivery company, the other a leading construction materials company. MDU Resources remains committed to managing its business to deliver best-in-class operating performance and value for all stakeholders. Dave will provide additional information on our strategy during his remarks later this morning. Prior to handing the call over to Dave for his comments and forward look, I will provide an overview of the consolidated financial results for the third quarter. This morning we announced third quarter earnings of $147.9 million, or $0.73 per share, on a gap basis, with adjusted earnings of $152 million, or $0.75 per share, compared to third quarter 2021 earnings of $139.3 million, or $0.68 per share. Due to the previously announced plan to separate Knife River, We are reporting adjusted earnings that excludes costs related to the anticipated separation transaction. Our combined utility business reported earnings of $3.5 million for the quarter compared to earnings of $5.2 million in the third quarter of 2021. The electric utility segment reported third quarter earnings of $21.6 million compared to $20.6 million for the same period in 2021. This increase was largely the result of lower operation and maintenance expense due to lower payroll-related and materials costs partially associated with the coal-fired Heskett Station and Lewis and Clark Station plant closures, as well as the absence of costs from a planned outage at Big Stone Station during 2021. Higher revenues associated with North Dakota interim rate relief were offset by decreased retail sales volumes. Our natural gas utility segment reported a third-quarter seasonal loss of $18.1 million compared to a loss of $15.4 million in the third quarter of 2021. Results were impacted by increased operating expense, including higher subcontractor costs and depreciation expense. Also contributing to the loss was increased interest expense as a result of increased debt balances to fund capital expenditures and higher average interest rates. Partially offsetting these higher costs was higher rate recovery through decoupling mechanisms. The pipeline business earned $9.8 million in the third quarter compared to $10.6 million in the third quarter of 2021. The company experienced higher transportation revenues and record transportation volumes during the quarter, with growth largely attributed to the North Bakken expansion project that was placed in service earlier this year. The increase in revenues was offset in part by lower allowance for funds used during construction, which is reflected in other income, and higher depreciation expense associated primarily with the North Bakken project. Further offsetting the increase was higher interest expense. As we've noted in the past, 2022 includes a delay on a portion of the North Bakken expansion projects committed volumes, and we expect to see increased benefit from this project in 2023 based on contracted volume commitments. Construction services business reported all-time record quarterly revenue of $737 million and earnings of $28 million, compared to revenue of $514.8 million and earnings of $23.1 million for the same period in 2021. Record revenues were primarily driven by approximately 70% higher electrical and mechanical workloads. Commercial workloads were favorably impacted by the progress on large hospitality projects and a number of data center projects started during the quarter. The industrial and institutional business lines also benefited from the mix of projects during the quarter. This business saw a lower margin percentage on record revenues for the quarter, attributed mostly to higher operating costs related to inflation, including material and labor costs. Earnings for the quarter were negatively impacted by $7.5 million after-tax due to adjustments made to estimates on certain construction contracts, compared to a negative impact of $5.5 million after-tax in Q3 of 2021 for similar adjustments. Our construction materials business reported all-time record quarterly revenue of $975.4 million and earnings of $102.8 million, compared to the prior year third quarter revenue of $831.3 million and earnings of $96.3 million. Higher contracting workloads and price increases across all product lines drove the top-line revenue growth up 17% from the third quarter in 2021, largely as a result of strong demand in most markets and the impacts of recent acquisitions. This business saw slightly lower margin percentages on record revenues for the quarter, primarily due to higher operating costs related to inflation, including higher diesel fuel, materials costs, labor, equipment, and transportation costs. Also impacting the quarter was higher interest expense as a result of higher average debt balances and higher rates, as well as higher selling general administrative costs, largely due to labor-related expenses. Results at each of MDU Resources' businesses have been negatively impacted on a non-cash basis by lower unrealized investment returns on non-qualified benefit plans. Collectively, the negative earnings variance in the third quarter compared to last year was approximately $2.5 million, or one cent per share. The company attributes this change in investment returns to significant fluctuations in the financial markets that have been experienced during 2022. The company continues to maintain a strong balance sheet and ample access to working capital to finance our operations through their peak seasons. That summarizes the financial highlights for the quarter, and now I'll turn the call over to Dave for his formal remarks. Dave?

Thank you, Jason, and thank you, everyone, for spending time with us today, along with your continued interest in MDU Resources. I'd like to begin with an update regarding our announcement this morning about our goals for the future structure of MDU Resources. In August, we announced our plan to separate the Knife River Corporation, creating two publicly traded companies. Our team has continued working diligently towards completing this separation. As a reminder, this separation of Knife River is expected to be affected as a tax-free spinoff to MDU Resources shareholders and to be completed in 2023. We are pleased with the progress we have made and look forward to further enhancing shareholder value with this transaction. We were also pleased to hear a positive investor feedback to the original announcement. Further, as the next step in our strategic planning process, the Board of Directors has unanimously determined the best way to optimize value would be to create two pure play public companies, a leading construction materials company, and a pure-play regulated energy delivery company. To achieve this outcome, we will work to complete the separation of Knife River and we will commence a strategic review process to explore alternatives for our construction services business. We believe these steps will unlock significant value for MDU shareholders and provide each company with the opportunity to execute on their respective business plans and to achieve industry-leading performance. We intend to discuss in detail our long-term company strategy during analyst events in 2023, including analyst days for each entity as we near the completion of the Knife River Spin transaction. More information regarding event details and presentations will be available on the company's website when these events are scheduled. Now I'd like to turn to the discussion of our quarterly operating results. Our construction businesses both reported all-time record quarterly revenues and combined record third quarter backlogs, now standing at $2.9 billion, which is up over 50% from the same time a year ago. Our utility and natural gas pipeline businesses continue to perform well, but have been impacted negatively by higher interest costs. And we also continue to experience and adapt to inflationary pressures across all lines of business. To summarize activity by business segment, I'd like to start off with the regulated energy delivery businesses. At our utility business, here we have grown customer base by 1.6% on a year-over-year basis, and we expect this growth to be between 1% and 2% compounded annually over the next five years. We expect our rate base to grow by 5% compounded annually over the next five years, driven primarily by investments in the system, infrastructure upgrades, and replacements to safely meet this growing customer demand. In August, it was announced that our electric utility, along with Otter Tail Power Company, we plan to jointly develop and construct and own approximately a 95-mile, 345-kV transmission line from Jamestown, North Dakota to Ellendale, North Dakota. This is one of 18 transmission projects recently approved by MISO as part of its first phase of a multi-year, long-range transmission planning initiative. This project allows both companies to create a more resilient regional transmission grid while continuing to provide reliable, affordable electricity to its customers. The transmission line is projected to be in service in late 2028 with a current estimated cost of $439 million. This business continues to seek regulatory recovery for our investments associated with providing that safe and reliable electric and natural gas service to our growing customer base. An interim electric rate increase of 5.3% was implemented here in July, mid-July 15th in North Dakota, appending a decision on the requested increase of 12.3% before the state's Public Service Commission. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approved the utility's request for an approximately 4% natural gas rate increase, which was effective here on September 1st. And now here in the fourth quarter, the utility intends to file a request for an electric rate increase with the Montana Public Service Commission, and a request for a natural gas rate increase with the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. You can read about this and other regulatory filings in our Form 10-Q that was filed this morning. Also, the utility segment began construction here in May of 2022 on Heskett Unit 4, which is on track and expected to be in service during the first half of 2023. At our pipeline business, here we reported earnings of $9.8 million. As Jason noted, this business recorded record higher transportation revenues and record transportation volumes driven primarily by the North Bakken expansion project that was placed in service earlier this year. This project is well positioned in the Bakken and can be readily expanded in the future for forecasted natural gas production growth. The company continues to work on a number of expansion projects across its system that are expected to add incremental natural gas transportation capacity of more than 300 million cubic feet per day, and they are expected to be completed throughout 2023 and 2024, pending regulatory approvals. Now I'd like to switch gears and move on to our construction businesses. At our construction services group, we had all-time record revenue during this quarter, up 43% from a year ago. We experienced strong demand for electrical and mechanical-related work, with an overall increase in revenues of approximately 70%, specifically for hospitality, data center, and renewable projects. We also saw a consistent demand for transmission and distribution-related work, which also contributed to the quarter. Construction services ended the quarter with all-time record backlog of $2 billion, up 57% from the prior year. The company expects to complete approximately 80% of this backlog within the following 12 months. We are very well positioned to complete these projects safely and efficiently. with our ability to successfully attract and retain a skilled workforce of over 9,100 employees across our footprint. Given the successful first three quarters of the year, we have also increased our 2022 revenue guidance range by $100 million to now a range of $2.5 to $2.7 billion, with margins expected lower than 2021, reflecting the current inflationary environment. Now moving on to construction materials, here our construction materials business also had all-time record revenues for the quarter, with increases across all product lines. This business completed a significant portion of work that was delayed earlier in the year due to unfavorable weather conditions, and we benefited by higher average material pricing across its product lines. The company also reported a record third quarter backlog of $895 million, up 37% from the same time last year, and expects to complete an estimated 92% of the backlog on record within the following 12 months. Given the strong backlog and record third quarter revenues, we are affirming the revenue guidance range of $2.45 to $2.65 billion, with margins slightly lower than 2021, reflecting the current inflationary environment. Looking ahead, both our construction services and construction material businesses are really very well positioned to benefit from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which we anticipate will begin to positively impact bidding opportunities here in late 2022 and particularly 2023 and going forward. This completes our individual business unit discussion. Looking ahead, we are very encouraged by the opportunities for customer growth at our utility and electric business, a strong set of pipeline projects across our pipeline business, record levels of construction backlog, and our ability to record and have a skilled employee base as well. We are affirming our 2022 earnings guidance to a range of $1.75 to $1.90 per share, with EBITDA guidance in the range of $875 to $925 million. We have a robust capital plan of $702 million planned for 2022, Our future capital expenditures include line-of-sight opportunities, such as the completion of Heskett Station Unit 4 and other infrastructure development at the utility, expansion projects at the pipeline, and ongoing equipment replacements at our construction businesses. As always, MDU Resources is committed to operating with integrity and with a focus on safety while creating superior shareholder value. as we continue to provide essential services to our customers and delivering on our mission of building a strong America while being a great and safe place to work. I appreciate your interest in and commitment to MDU resources and ask now that we open the line to questions. Operator?

Thank you. At this time, I would like to remind everyone if they would like to ask a question, please press star and then the number one on your telephone keypad. If you would like to withdraw your question, please press star then the number two on the telephone keypad. If you are on a speakerphone, please pick up your headset before entering your request. We will pause for just a moment to compile our Q&A roster. Your first question comes from Brian Rosso from Siddhati. Please go ahead, sir. Your line is live for your question.

Yeah, hi. Good morning. Just quickly... Good morning, Brian. Good morning. Just quickly on Knife River. You know, what are the regulatory milestones that we should be looking for as we progress into 2023, you know, in terms of the private letter ruling from the IRS, I think, and then any SEC approvals needed? And, you know, maybe if we can kind of You know, look at the calendar and be talking first half 2023 or, you know, second half of 2023 completion.

Sure. Understand the question, Brian. I will start and maybe ask Jason to give a little more detail that we can. I would say in short, we are. Strong focus internally. We are on track as we've laid out our project here, certainly. Again, a high priority internally. 2023 is the, I know it's a wide window of time, but that's the window that we've provided there. And clearly there will be some milestones. I'll turn it over to Jason, while not probably depicting dates, but just to give you some work stream kind of color.

Yeah, thanks, Brian. It's a great question, and we're certainly, as Dave mentioned, working quickly towards this. I think what you would see, what you mentioned were two items that really are some of the regulatory workflows I would consider, one being a private letter ruling from the IRS. I mean, that process is well underway here. We'll be working with the IRS here in the coming months to work through that process. In addition, I think the Form 10, which would be the filing with the SEC, we would expect here in the next coming months as well to be filing on a confidential basis that with the SEC, which we would then work with them to get that to a public document sometime ahead of the spin here as we get into 2023. So not real definitive on dates there, but I think those are two of the big milestones that are a little bit outside of our control as far as the timing of the review process, but certainly within our control is how quickly we can get those filed here and get working with those various groups.

Okay, great. And then on the construction services segment, the strategic alternatives, what are those alternatives? Is it outright sale and or, you know, a spinoff similar to Knife River? And when do you think you might conclude the review and, you know, provide an update?

Yep. No, appreciate that question, Brian. I

Actually, I think the question, I'll expand on it maybe just a little bit, but I thought it might be more, why didn't we announce this back in August? Or why now? Why not then? And it's kind of the separation. And I'll get to your question. But really, I would say we've always said that the board continually evaluates our portfolio businesses to really make sure that the company is best positioned to unlock value for our shareholders and Going back to our August announcement, at that time, we were really able to make clear two specific decisions, one that we really felt that Knife River would be better positioned to create value for our shareholders, really, I'll say, as a standalone company. And also, we didn't feel, and we voiced this, that it didn't make sense, probably industrial logic, to really spin Knife River and CSG as a combined entity. So, you know, hence the announcement back in August. And so... You know, as our board and management have been working through how our shareholders best serve by keeping CSG with regulated energy or exploring other alternatives for CSG, you know, we really felt that as we continued to analyze CSG, we felt really the most desirable outcome is to move towards this two pure play publicly traded company structure that we announced here just today, one being regulated energy, You know, our utility companies combined with our pipeline business along with the construction materials being the other one. And so confident of that structure. Going to your question, though, it's really the start of the review, if you will, so far as the strategic review and looking at the various options with our announcement today. We will be looking at all alternatives and ways in which to maximize value here and I feel very strongly CSG is a very valuable business. If you look at all the financial metrics, whether it's year-to-date net income at record levels, if you look at employment levels at 9,100 employees, if you look at backlog up some 50% on a year-over-year basis, it's really a high-performing business. And so we're going to be very judicious in our review as we look at alternatives to really maximize or optimize the value of our CSG business.

Okay, thank you. One last question on the utility. It seems like you have a very active regulatory calendar with rate cases pending or expected to be filed. I'm sensing you're under-earning basically in 2022, which is why you're filing these cases. When we look forward, you know, assuming manageable equity needs, right, and your reaffirmation of the 5% rate-based CAGR, you know, can we see the utility growing earnings at a consistent rate with, you know, the rate-based growth rate of 5%? Is that realistic in the near term?

Yeah, Brian, I mean, you know, as utilities make investments for that safe and reliable service, clearly then we look to the regulators to, you know, go through that rate-making process to make everything as reasonable and prudent. But that rate-based growth should translate to some correlation to earnings growth, certainly subject to regulatory lag, subject to, you know, making sure that our investments are truly, you know, reasonable and prudent as well. I think given we are outspending, if you will, our depreciation rates at our utilities, we're growing rate-based at that 5% compounded annual growth, there's kind of an inherent regulatory lag in that process because we're outspending, if you will, the depreciation rates. So what you noted for an expectation would clearly be an expectation I would have. It might be choppy only because rate cases come every, you know, nine to 12 months from a regulatory cycle there. But you can clearly see Nicole and her team are very focused on closing that regulatory gap. And we think about the number of cases that were just filed. And I think I probably answered the question. I'm looking at, you know, Nicole, if anything to add there. But I probably, I think I got it all unless you have a follow-up, Brian.

No, that's it. Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Thank you, Brian.

Your next question comes from Ryan Levine with Citibank. Please go ahead, sir. Your line is live.

Good morning. In terms of the strategic announcement or potential strategic review that you initiated this morning, to the extent it's not successful, what entity would construction service remain with? And then to the extent you go forward with the potential transaction, I'm curious as to how the capital structure would travel with the assets and how you're envisioning financing attributes of this package of – or this portfolio of assets.

Sure.

So both kind of future questions to be answered, if you think of it that way, Ryan – Clearly, the strategic review, we're going to look at all options here to look to optimize the value of the business. That could be in the form of a number of different types of transactions, whether it's a sale, whether it's a spin, whether it's a merger, whether it's a combination of those or some other type of structure. And so that will be part of the review. And no doubt the results of that outcome will then lead into the second part of your question as to capital structure or use of whether there be proceeds or ultimately shareholder value creation here and how we best deploy that for our two pure play businesses. Jason?

Yeah, I would just add that I think part of your original question, Ryan, was where would services lie here. I think I just want to come back to the focus that we're diligently working towards the separation of Knife River into a standalone company. That's really what we've been working on here for quite some time. We will be looking through strategic alternatives for the services business here as well, but that will be kind of a separate process in that piece. And we haven't really been definitive on a timeline with that here at this point either. So I think it's a little – early to, you know, hypothesize, I guess, maybe where things would end up after the fact, but just want to be focused on the fact that we really are seeing Knife River as a standalone pure play materials company. And the future state for MD resources will be a standalone pure play regulated energy delivery company.

Okay. Does that envision that there's a possibility that there could be three standalone public companies? as an outcome of the strategic review, or is it focused more around attracting third-party strategic or financial buyers?

I think all options are on the table as we think about that, Ryan, and so I wouldn't preclude anything at this point. Again, our announcement today is really letting the world know of what our future plans and structure as we see it. And certainly we'll look to, again, optimize the value of Construction Services Group, a very valuable company as it's performing today.

Okay. And given there's a number of potential transactions in the works over the next, call it 12 months, how are you looking to evolve current M&A or transaction strategies in terms of bolt-on acquisitions between the three key business units?

Yeah, you know, certainly that's part of our DNA, Ryan, as we look.

I mean, that's really what has grown our materials business into what it is today and what we intended to be down the road, a stand-alone public company, top-performing materials business. And it's also in the DNA of construction services and, you know, into the valuable business, as I noted today. You know, I think that's still part of what we would continue to look at. Clearly, we have other major work streams undergoing as well. But I wouldn't preclude that. At the same time, we've been very successful at organic growth in these businesses as well. So I think there's optionality we have in each of those construction lines.

Okay. And then in terms of construction services, historically, you've been reluctant to part ways with that asset because of tax basis issues and certain strategic and commercial benefits. What's changed on that front, and are there any dis-synergies that you would envision with any separation of that system?

Yes, certainly that will be part of this analysis as we think about the various transactions and the types that I outlined earlier. Those all will be considerations when we think about that. But again, it's a strong performing business today, and we think there will be likely a reaction to our announcement today.

And again, we're starting that process right now.

Okay. And then with the one on the utility, I think in your prepared comments, you highlighted some underfunded pension or certain obligation there. Can you elaborate on where you sit from that standpoint and how that could impact your outlook?

I think what you're noting is some of our non-qualified benefit plans, you know, we've Noted throughout the year, given the markets this year and kind of the no place to hide kind of thing, I think it's roughly $20 million or about $0.10 per share on a year-over-year basis. But maybe just a little background, Jason, as to that. We just want that to be known because it's a large enough number. Investors should know that.

Yeah, this is to your question, Ryan, here as far as pension. This is a little bit different than kind of our traditional pension here. This is really the non-qualified programs that we have. And these assets, as they're non-qualified, we have liabilities certainly in our balance sheet for that. We have funded some assets to offset those liabilities. And those assets are actually mark-to-market on a monthly basis. So these are all non-cash, unrealized gains and losses this year, I guess that you would say, that we've experienced on these assets here. Don't expect this to have a significant impact on ongoing future benefit expense or anything along that line. This is really related to these non-qualified plans, not getting into the traditional defined benefit pension plans that we have at our various businesses. Those plans, just as a refresher, we have frozen all of our defined benefit pension plans as well across the corporation many years ago. So they're really kind of in a liability reduction mode at this point in time versus something that's a large ongoing cost to the company. Appreciate the call. Thank you.

Thank you, Ryan. Appreciate the questions.

Thank you. At this time, I would like to remind everyone, if you would like to ask a question, please press star and then the number one on your telephone keypad. If you'd like to withdraw your questions, please press star and then number two on your telephone keypad. If you are on a speakerphone, please pick up the handset before entering your request. Your next question comes from Darius Lozney with Bank of America. Sir, your line is open. Please go ahead.

Hi, good morning, and thank you for taking my questions. Can I just maybe start with Thinking about the growth rate at the Remain Co. after the two processes that you have ongoing are concluded, I think in the past you framed your 5% to 8% long-term CAGR as sort of on the low end are the utilities and the upside there towards the 8% is driven by the construction businesses. Post these two transactions, do you envision having any latitude to accelerate that rate-based growth and correspondingly the EPS growth at the RemainCo?

Yeah, great question, Darius.

Yes, I mean, the 5% to 8% is our long-term EPS growth as MDU resources as we see that today. I know we've had countless meetings with you and other investors kind of walk us through how each of the businesses contribute to that 5% to 8% and how we think about that. As you're describing this pure play regulated business, our future state as we envision it, Today we talk about a 5% CAGR in rate-based growth, certainly at our utility business. That's really coming off about a 7% CAGR over the prior five years, and if it went back two years before that, the prior five years were more like a 12% CAGR. So it's been growing quite nicely over time. Certainly it's currently at a 5%, I would say, Look forward as we think about our CapEx discussion with our board here in a couple weeks, and we would be expecting to let the market know what the refresh on our five-year looks like, probably that week of Thanksgiving or so, just to give a sense there. So I think that's probably a contributor. Certainly the pipeline business would have experienced a stronger CAGR than that over the more recent years. which I think would tend to elevate that EPS. And then if you think about the projects that I noted in my comments, the multiple projects, the $300,000 a day of commitments from customers that Trevor and his group have signed up, if you will, between, you know, that's 2023, 2024 projects, very line of sight. I would expect that would be more on the high end of that range, if not lifting that of sorts. So But that's as we see it today. I think the other part of this is the pure play. We also think we'll have a certain appeal in the marketplace as a pure play regulated business as we think about that. And then we'll also be really defined capital structure and also capital allocation will be very focused as we think about that management team that's dialed in in that business as well. I think those are all attributes to be thinking about as we describe the future state of MD resources, particularly to the regulated energy business.

Okay, great. Thank you. Sorry for the long answer.

No, that's great and very comprehensive. I appreciate it. One more, if I can, and this relates to your 22 guidance. It looks like you're revenue guidance for the services business ticked up, but the margin language maybe ticked down a little bit, while the materials, which I think had a weaker first half of the year, seems to be steady state as far as the composition of your guidance. Can you maybe talk a little bit about the dynamics there, what you're seeing specifically of the services relative to the materials, and then also maybe the backlog growth and the services side was very robust. Can you talk a little bit about the dynamics there and what specifically drove that really strong increase in the backlog?

Absolutely, Darius. I'm going to just give a couple comments, but then I think well served to get more details from each of those business heads. I'll start with Jeff Thede and then ask Dave Barney to weigh in on materials. And I mean, clearly you look at a high level where our activities have been in both of those lines of business. As you note, elevating services by $100 million in revenue guidance. As we think about the year, our backlog growth there has been astounding, if you think of it that way. I'll have Jeff kind of talk about just the dynamics in that business, which I think also leads to your margin question a little bit as well. Jeff?

Thanks, Dave. We've had pressure from inflation, labor, materials, subcontractors. That's contributed to the margin impact, that supply chain issues, which affects productivity. And as noted in the release, we've had a couple of write-downs. Given the nature of our work and our historical strong performance, including our record quarter revenue and our record year-to-date earnings, and our Q3 earnings that are 21% higher this year than last year, write-downs are part of our business. and they should be overcome and will be overcome by strong performance on a majority of our projects. We've got exceptional teams focused on getting work and being selective, and our backlog remains consistent among our E&M group, which is about 80% of our backlog, versus our T&D group, which is about 20%. The largest component of that work is our commercial, which includes hospitality, airport, data center work, industrial, but we've got a number of segments that really exemplifies our diverse project offerings and strengthens our business. Included in that is renewables. We've got several renewable projects and two more pending that we anticipate on getting. We're also doing electric vehicle charging stations, and we've got great projects great growth in our service work and our special projects.

Darius, any follow-up for Jeff, or I'll go on then to Dave Barney. Just want to make sure Jeff answered your question.

Yes, yeah, yeah, that was very helpful. Thank you.

Okay, very good. Dave, Barney, can you just touch on kind of the dynamics that you're seeing out there and how and what your team is doing to get ahead of them?

Sure. Morning, Darius. You know, we had, as you know, we had record revenue in the quarter, due mainly to higher prices in almost every product line. We have a record backlog across almost all our regions, and I can tell you our bid schedule looks strong, and we continue to pick up work fast. Demand is strong. Our price increase has largely been accepted by our customers, and we continue to raise prices. Just in October, we implemented another price increase on aggregates. So going forward, we expect our margins to continue to improve.

Does that answer your question?

Thank you, Dave. Anything else, Darius?

No, I think that's everything. I appreciate the color. I'll pass it here.

Excellent. Thank you for calling in and for the questions, Darius.

This marks the last call for questions. If you would like to ask a question, press star for the number one on your telephone keypad. The webcast can be accessed at www.mdu.com under the Investor Relations heading Select Events and Presentations. and then click Q3 2022 earnings conference call. After the conclusion of the webcast, a replay will be available at the same location. At this time, there are no further questions. I would now like to turn the conference back to management for closing remarks.

Thank you, Lisa, and thank you all for taking the time to join us here on our third quarter earnings call. We are optimistic about our growth opportunities with record combined construction backlog and our ongoing and future regulated energy delivery projects. We look forward to connecting with you again as we close out the year and prepare for 2023. Again, thank you. We appreciate your continued interest in and support of MD resources. And with that, I'll turn this back to the operator.

This concludes today's MDU Resources Group conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.