Centrica Share Discussion Threads

[renixus1] 01/11/2017 18:29

Everything we do is focused on satisfying the changing needs of our customers.

[sicker] 01/11/2017 17:31

I phoned to-day and asked politely if it were possible that I might have my bills reduced.
Yes we can was the reply and my dual fuel account shall be reduced a little and my Home Care shall be reduced a little.
Thank you very much I said, most kind of you :-)

[w1ndjammer] 01/11/2017 17:24

This is what HL had to say on the 1/8 2017 they are usually quite conservative
with their views on stocks, i was out of these at the time so didn`t pay much attention, but talk of increasing the divi made me look again.

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Our view

Centrica's downstream operations have always been highly cash generative. The problem is that historically most of this cash has been pumped into upstream exploration and production (E&P) assets. Between 2007 and 2014 the group invested billions, leaving it very exposed when the cycle turned. The net result was a 30% dividend cut, and a share placing to shore up the balance sheet.

Going forward, Centrica is shifting its focus away from the potentially volatile world of E&P. Costs are being slashed and capital investment is set be significantly lower. The focus is instead on its downstream businesses in the US and the UK, namely Direct Energy and British Gas.

The group has the best part of 30 million existing customers as well as strong, recognisable brands. If it can play to these strengths, through cross-selling additional services (such as the Hive connected hubs) and improve efficiency, it should be capable of growth.

Progress has been reasonable so far and it is good to see the group remains confident of meeting its targets, despite the headwinds of a warmer winter and more challenging conditions in the energy markets.

Centrica's debts were still too onerous for a dividend increase last year. However, with the group confident of delivering adjusted operating cash flow of more than £2bn this year, deleveraging shouldn't be a problem. Analysts are currently pencilling in steady dividend increases from here on, with the prospective yield currently standing at 6.1%.

While this is encouraging, we still feel Centrica will need to deliver an assured execution of its plans to keep investors onside. The dilutive impact of 2016's share placing still lingers in the memory, while the looming threat of increased regulation has added an unwanted complication. The Conservatives promised to cap prices after their election victory, a move which Centrica has understandably expressed its opposition to. Nothing has surfaced as yet, but the issue is a political hot potato, so could well resurface in the coming months, or years

[supermarky] 01/11/2017 17:19

2.4% knocked off the share price today. What is the rationale for this? Crazy. At least Vodafone is a bit more perky.

[essentialinvestor] 01/11/2017 17:00

100k is not pocket change, however looks less impressive when
viewed in the context of his salary package.

[supermarky] 01/11/2017 16:58

Happy days. It's fun holding here. We have no option but to hold fast. Any good news could push this much higher at these super depressed valuations.

[gaffer73] 01/11/2017 16:50

The CEO made a comment when he bought 100k shares. Hold your nerve and top up if possible imo.

[portside1] 01/11/2017 16:06

one more comment I along with all family and friends vote conservative because we thought they were for businesses now they are ante

they will now lose our votes

MAY IS SCUM A SPLIT ARES BUT BRAIN DEAD

[careful] 01/11/2017 15:37

maybe business is ok and he needs to make no comment.
Why should he react to crazy market movements.

We have seen this sort of thing so often.
When Glencore fell to 69p less than 2 years ago.
Investec said they had no value.

The CEO, (who owned a big chunk of the company) gave his strategy going forward he sounded convincing to me.
Still they were hammered.
today they are about 380p.

[portside1] 01/11/2017 15:30

conn is silent so what does he do for CNA , APART FROM MILKING THE COMPANY FOR IS OWN ENDS ,

[robert pennell] 01/11/2017 15:24

I figure that they are a lot cheaper than the used to be so I have just bought. Over 7% dividend. Crazy not to (unless you think Jeremy Corbyn will nationalise them without compensating shareholders).

[shawzie] 01/11/2017 15:18

Nicola Sturgeon proposes a national government controlled energy company in Scotland.
A not for profit company selling electricity generated from hydro, wind and tide.
All this to bring cheaper? electricity to the Scots.
What she has not told the people of Scotland is that the distribution networks are controlled by foreign investors i.e. Spaniards, Chinese, etc., who will surely obtain substantial charges for their services, thus making the final bill to customers no better than they pay currently.
Government interference in markets is to the nations benefit?

[nortic 007] 01/11/2017 14:49

I agree.To be honest and being an x trader I would like to see these have one last kicking to average and then I think they will start to climb but all this down 1 down 2 type of days doesn't help. I'm not that much out of the money but it's never nice being down. I hope everyone will prosper in the end.I'm off to Wembley now for an early beverage . If I speak to Ronaldo I'll see if I can get him to buy some CNA :)

[careful] 01/11/2017 14:44

wllmherk
I too have big positions in CNA and BT.A.
I will not oversleep tomorrow and will be up to get the BT results at 7 o'clock.

Just think how sick you would feel if you sold out now and missed a recovery.
On the other hand I have friends who held lots of Marconi, and it fell, and then fell further.
To make matters worse, when it fell from 1200p to 900p they topped up, and again at even lower prices. Still buying at 10p.
They chased them down and ended up being wiped out.

A difficult game sometimes.

[careful] 01/11/2017 14:37

Fundamentals and dividends seem unimportant to share prices these days.
Getting close to not having any assets or profit to support a share.
Just like at the time of the South Sea Bubble and other reckless times.
Dutch tulip bulbs, the price went up and up because it went up.
Until it stopped, ruination for some.

leveraged hedge funds borrow shares for peanuts and borrow money.
They do not even suffer the real burden of ownership, payment.

CNA is going down because it is going down.
Hold your nerve.

[nortic 007] 01/11/2017 14:36

SusiebeI've forgotten how to smile :(

[wllmherk] 01/11/2017 14:35

JP, I have around 45% of my total capital in BT.A and around 20% in CNA. The rest is much smaller amounts spread around 8 other stocks. I guess this is risky as most will advise diversification, however, this has served me well these past 8 years. The problem for me now is I'm 'locked' into both as selling now would mean huge losses to my capital. Having said that neither are going bust so as long as the dividends keep rolling in I continue to hold.

As I get older I am looking to diversify more and spread the risk.

wllm

[susiebe] 01/11/2017 14:34

Nortic and supermarkyI predict you will both be smiling again by year end.Keep the faith!

[capeview] 01/11/2017 14:31

@ 5702, I'll let you know if I move from Octopus Energy if I hit any issues or troubles with getting any credits back or problems with moving to another company.

So far though, not had any DD increases or even issues with the bills which are easy to read, and my last bill which had an issue with the Gas Reading not going through for some reason was resolved within a few hours by using email.

Just to add, sometimes we need smaller players to shake up the industry because the big players get too comfortable in there big boots and nothing ever moves forwards. Just look at Tesla, they have shaken up the car market. They may not have the capacities of some of the big players, but the big players have become complacent.

[supermarky] 01/11/2017 14:26

Most PI's wanting safe good divi payers in a ftse 100 boring defensive will have cna. We are not alone in pain

[nortic 007] 01/11/2017 14:15

I've got 200,000 shares.....d'oh

[supermarky] 01/11/2017 14:15

Phil, by a few I hope you mean a few ie 2!I'm glad I sold at least some when 180 failed

[nortic 007] 01/11/2017 14:15

LolA few more grey hairs as well.

[supermarky] 01/11/2017 14:13

I was a boy when I bought. I'm now feeling like an old man

[nortic 007] 01/11/2017 13:57

There's a lot of suffering out there but I think this latest fall will sort the men out from the boys. Let's wait and see.