Fair Value Measurements

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2025

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements

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. ASC 820 - Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820”) establishes a three-tier hierarchy for grouping assets and liabilities, based on the significance and availability of inputs in active markets. The estimated fair values of the Company's assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis are determined using the market approach.

In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs use data points that are observable such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs are “unobservable data points” for the asset or liability and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The Company measures its investments in certain fixed income and equity securities at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. The Company anticipates using these investments, which consist of insurance contracts, to satisfy its obligations under its unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan for the Company's executive officers and certain key management employees. The Company invests in these fixed income and equity securities for the purpose of earning investment returns and capital appreciation. Prior to the Separation, the Company was a participant in MDU Resources’ benefit and compensation plans. These investments, which totaled $6.9 million and $4.8 million as of June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively, were included in Investments on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. The Company recognized net unrealized gains on these investments of $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively. The net unrealized gains on these investments were immaterial and $0.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. The change in fair value was classified in Other income, net on the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income.

The estimated fair value of the Company’s Level 2 insurance contracts is 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 estimated fair values of the Company’s Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, Receivables, Accounts payable and Other accrued liabilities approximate their carrying value due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

The Company has a captive insurance arrangement in which a Captive Cell within a captive insurance company holds cash, classified as restricted cash, and certain other accrued liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities in order to manage and administer insurance claims on behalf of the Company. The fair values of the assets and liabilities held by the Captive Cell approximated their fair values as of both June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024. Refer to Note 2 – Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for additional information on the Company’s captive insurance arrangement.

The Company’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis were as follows:

	Fair Value Measurements as of June 30, 2025, Using
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Balance as of June 30, 2025
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Insurance contracts	$	—	$	6,938	$	—	$	6,938
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	6,938	$	—	$	6,938

	Fair Value Measurements as of 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 as of December 31, 2024
	(In thousands)
Assets:
Insurance contracts	$	—	$	4,766	$	—	$	4,766
Total assets measured at fair value	$	—	$	4,766	$	—	$	4,766

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

The Company applies the provisions of ASC 820 to its nonrecurring, nonfinancial measurements of nonfinancial assets and liabilities, including long-lived asset impairments. These nonfinancial 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. No long-lived asset impairments were recorded for both of the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024.

Assets and Liabilities Not Measured at Fair Value

The Company's long-term debt as of both June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, was not measured at fair value on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, but the corresponding fair values are being provided for disclosure purposes only. The fair values were categorized as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy and were based on discounted cash flows using current market interest rates. Refer to Note 6 – Debt for additional information on the Company’s long-term debt.

The estimated fair values of the Company's Level 2 gross long-term debt, including current long-term debt, were as follows as of:

	June 30, 2025		December 31, 2024
	(In thousands)
Carrying value	$	292,500	$	300,000
Fair value	$	293,734	$	298,559