United Utilities Group (UU.)

Sector:

Utilities

Index:

FTSE 100

1,022.50p
   
  • Change Today:
    -20.00p
  • 52 Week High: 1,125.00p
  • 52 Week Low: 958.80p
  • Currency: UK Pounds
  • Shares Issued: 681.89m
  • Volume: 2,070,450
  • Market Cap: £6,972m
  • RiskGrade: 118

National Grid the pick of utilities sector, reckons Barclays

By Oliver Haill

Date: Wednesday 30 Jan 2019

LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - National Grid looks the most attractive of the utilities stocks listed in London, said Barclays as it initiated coverage on the sector with the view that water companies are "fair value".


National Grid is seen as being attractive for three reasons: that regulator Ofgem will "likely improve from here, which could see returns rising", that the company "is becoming more American but trades at a significant discount to US peers" and that "downside risk limited with material upside potential".

On this last point, Barclays analysts estimate NG is trading at a combined UK and US 14% premium to the regulatory asset base valuation, which implies a UK value at a 14% discount to March 2020 regulatory asset base.

National Grid therefore was given a 950p price target and an 'overweight' rating.

The water companies, Severn Trent, Pennon and United Utilities, were all rated 'equal weight', though Barclays believes the business plans of all three listed water companies may be fast tracked to 31 January.

Thames Water is seen at the bottom, though the analysts said "The best plan may not lead to the highest returns, but we estimate that the three listed water companies are among the best out of the 17 total water companies and will beat regulatory baselines."

Centrica and SSE are not covered by the analysts.

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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.

 

United Utilities Market Data

Currency UK Pounds
Share Price 1,022.50p
Change Today -20.00p
% Change -1.92 %
52 Week High 1,125.00p
52 Week Low 958.80p
Volume 2,070,450
Shares Issued 681.89m
Market Cap £6,972m
RiskGrade 118

United Utilities Star Ratings

Compare performance with the sector and the market.
more star ratings
Key: vs Market vs Sector
Value
69.48% below the market average69.48% below the market average69.48% below the market average69.48% below the market average69.48% below the market average
66.67% below the sector average66.67% below the sector average66.67% below the sector average66.67% below the sector average66.67% below the sector average
Price Trend
3.65% below the market average3.65% below the market average3.65% below the market average3.65% below the market average3.65% below the market average
14.29% above the sector average14.29% above the sector average14.29% above the sector average14.29% above the sector average14.29% above the sector average
Income
0.13% above the market average0.13% above the market average0.13% above the market average0.13% above the market average0.13% above the market average
20% below the sector average20% below the sector average20% below the sector average20% below the sector average20% below the sector average
Growth
82.45% below the market average82.45% below the market average82.45% below the market average82.45% below the market average82.45% below the market average
100% below the sector average100% below the sector average100% below the sector average100% below the sector average100% below the sector average

What The Brokers Say

Strong Buy 3
Buy 1
Neutral 8
Sell 1
Strong Sell 0
Total 13
neutral
Broker recommendations should not be taken as investment advice, and are provided by the authorised brokers listed on this page.

United Utilities Dividends

  Latest Previous
  Final Interim
Ex-Div 20-Jun-24 21-Dec-23
Paid 01-Aug-24 01-Feb-24
Amount 33.19p 16.59p

Trades for 31-Oct-2024

Time Volume / Share Price
16:39 8,703 @ 1,022.50p
16:39 1,123 @ 1,022.50p
16:39 1,053 @ 1,022.50p
16:35 1,820 @ 1,022.50p
16:35 1,153 @ 1,022.50p

United Utilities Key Personnel

Chair David Higgins
CFO Phil Aspin
CEO Louise Beardmore

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