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

JPMorgan downgrades United Utilities

By Michele Maatouk

Date: Tuesday 06 Dec 2022

LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - JPMorgan Cazenove downgraded United Utilities on Tuesday as it took a look at the UK water sector.
The bank noted that it turned more cautious on the sector in June and said it remains cautious today, due to regulatory and macroeconomic headwinds.

JPM pointed out that next week, water regulator Ofwat will publish the final methodology for the next price control, PR24, which starts in April 2025.

"We believe that the regulator's initial view of returns will surprise the market to the downside - we place United Utilities, Severn Trent, and Pennon on negative catalyst watch into the event," it said.

"Over the coming months, we expect earnings downgrades to continue, as companies will not be fully passing through inflation to customers next year."

The bank downgraded United Utilities to 'neutral' from 'overweight' on valuation grounds, as the best-performing UK water company year to date.

It remained 'neutral' on Pennon as while it sees the most downside to earnings, a 5% FY25 dividend yield should support the shares.

JPM kept its 'underweight' rating on Severn Trent as the most expensive stock on a dividend yield basis, and where it sees the lowest upside.

The bank's top picks remain stocks with UK Power Generation exposure (SSE, Centrica, Drax) and UK electricity networks (SSE, National Grid).

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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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