Centrica (CNA)

Sector:

Utilities

Index:

FTSE 100

132.00p
   
  • Change Today:
      1.85p
  • 52 Week High: 172.50p
  • 52 Week Low: 115.60p
  • Currency: UK Pounds
  • Shares Issued: 5,283m
  • Volume: 30,138,356
  • Market Cap: £6,974m
  • RiskGrade: 165

Centrica results to beat forecasts but warns on outlook

By Sean Farrell

Date: Thursday 14 Jan 2021

LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Centrica said it expected annual earnings to beat expectations but British Gas's owner said it was cautious about the outlook for energy demand and bad debts.
The energy supplier said Covid-19 affected financial performance in the second half of 2020 but less than in the preceding six months. UK business electricity demand fell 15% in the second half compared with a 30% drop in the first half and residential boiler installations improved but were still 15% lower than a year earlier.

Cash collection was broadly in line with previous years and a cost-cutting plan is on track. At the end of 2020 Centrica had 6.9m UK energy supply customers and 3.6m UK services customers, both broadly unchanged since the half year.

As a result of these trends earnings per share for 2020 from continuing and discontinued operations are expected to be better than current market expectations, the FTSE 250 company said. Centrica shares rose 3.1% to a 10-month high of 51.08p at 10:06 GMT.

Centrica said it was wary about prospects for 2021 amid surging coronavirus infections and after Chancellor Rishi Sunak predicted the economy would get worse before it improved.

"The return of tighter Covid-19 restrictions in the UK and Ireland [is] expected to put continued pressure on business energy demand and limit services workload," Centrica said. "The related uncertain economic backdrop increases the potential for additional working capital outflow and higher bad debts."

Members of the GMB union staged a five-day strike in the past week at Centrica over the company's plans to impose worse working conditions by "firing and rehiring" employees. The GMB represents thousands of British Gas engineers and call centre workers.

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Note 1: Prices and trades are provided by Digital Look Corporate Solutions and are delayed by at least 15 minutes.

Note 2: RiskGrade figures are provided by RiskMetrics.

 

Centrica Market Data

Currency UK Pounds
Share Price 132.00p
Change Today 1.85p
% Change 1.42 %
52 Week High 172.50p
52 Week Low 115.60p
Volume 30,138,356
Shares Issued 5,283m
Market Cap £6,974m
RiskGrade 165

Centrica Star Ratings

Compare performance with the sector and the market.
more star ratings
Key: vs Market vs Sector
Value
91.71% above the market average91.71% above the market average91.71% above the market average91.71% above the market average91.71% above the market average
60.00% above the sector average60.00% above the sector average60.00% above the sector average60.00% above the sector average60.00% above the sector average
Price Trend
40.65% above the market average40.65% above the market average40.65% above the market average40.65% above the market average40.65% above the market average
100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average
Income
65.70% above the market average65.70% above the market average65.70% above the market average65.70% above the market average65.70% above the market average
100% below the sector average100% below the sector average100% below the sector average100% below the sector average100% below the sector average
Growth
63.29% above the market average63.29% above the market average63.29% above the market average63.29% above the market average63.29% above the market average
100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average100.00% above the sector average

What The Brokers Say

Strong Buy 3
Buy 6
Neutral 6
Sell 0
Strong Sell 0
Total 15
buy
Broker recommendations should not be taken as investment advice, and are provided by the authorised brokers listed on this page.

Centrica Dividends

  Latest Previous
  Final Interim
Ex-Div 30-May-24 05-Oct-23
Paid 11-Jul-24 16-Nov-23
Amount 2.67p 1.33p

Trades for 14-Jun-2024

Time Volume / Share Price
16:35 2,003,401 @ 132.00p
16:35 33,625 @ 132.00p
16:35 12,609,029 @ 132.00p
16:35 2 @ 132.00p
16:35 5,200 @ 132.00p

Centrica Key Personnel

Chair Scott Wheway
CEO Chris O’Shea

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