MDU Earnings, 4Q19 -- Huge Fourth Quarter Beat; Ford Tanks

Link here for MDU. Huge report.

• earnings increased by 23% in 2019
• earnings: $335.5 million
• $1.69/share
• 2018
• $272.3 million
• $1.39/share
• 4Q19 vs 4Q18:
• $95.1 million vs $78.8 million
• 47 cents/share vs 40 cents/share
• forecast: 39 cents/share 
• guidance
• initiating per share guidance in range of $1.65 - $1.85

FORD tanks: down 11% after earnings reports came out; operating income falls by two-thirds; auto make cites lower production volumes in North America;

• adjusted EPS: 12 cents vs 15 - 17 cents
• revenue: 39.7 billion vs $36.3 - $36.49 billion forecast
• issues lower 2020 outlook
• 94 cents to $1.20 vs $1.31 estimate
• admitted execution issues in the US tied to the new Explorer SUV
• company's sales fell 5% from the prior year
• free cash flow decreased to $500 million from $1.5 billion
• sales dropped in all geographic regions
• comment: pivot to EVs is going to be problematic
• comment: the linked article at The WSJ is very, very troublesome; this paragraph stood out: Under the CEO, Mr. Hackett, Ford has pursued futuristic initiatives, such as testing driverless pizza delivery and an all-electric SUV version of the Mustang muscle car. But it has also been consumed by present-day problems that have weighed on earnings. 
• Ford also invested in a "scooter" company; $100 million for Spin;