Centrica Share Discussion Threads

[mastey] 02/2/2018 21:25

BTW Mercer now filtered as another novice not worth time reading

[mastey] 02/2/2018 21:22

Well done and good for you Goldpig. With regret for the reasons I opined on earlier today I can’t agree with you re CNA but that makes a market. I have long term and short term positions and one I am pleased I have no position in is CNA. Clearly you are convinced it’s total return ( as getting pretty fed up of these dividend isolation comments , as IMHO they are currently wording the statement re slashing it, can see an Easyjet like moment ) is a great opportunity and I wish you all the best .

[nortic 007] 02/2/2018 21:14

I hope you're not referring to me ?

[goldpiguk] 02/2/2018 20:55

Hi mastey,

No not at all. The reasons for my original investment in CNA remain intact. If they didn't I would not hesitate to sell. I often increase my holdings when share prices are rising especially when I am building a position in a company. Inside my ISA I fine tune my holdings as there are no CGT considerations, so I do adjust my weightings in companies.

Centrica is basically a good company going through a difficult time. Although it has made mistakes the utility sector is under the cosh at the moment because of the current political climate. Who can predict when that might change? At some point I believe it will!

Selling out hurriedly when a company is going through a difficult time can be a costly error. For example RMG shares fell sharply last Autumn to around £3.80 and many advocated selling at the low point. I am very glad I did not. As a long term investor I buy with the intention of holding for years. During that time a share price might fall significantly below my purchase price but if you buy for the long term good companies tend to go on and make new highs. That is not gambling but investing. It is the traders who are gambling on short term price movements.

I am very happy with the long term returns of my two portfolios which now produce an income I could afford to retire on.

Goldpig

[mercer95] 02/2/2018 20:42

I feel like a dead corpse being constantly kicked by clown boots but I can take it all day long

[mercer95] 02/2/2018 20:37

Exact science, usually follows the Dow,there’s nothing usual about a 500 point drop, you guys know nothing about the market, you remind me of those kids, in the trees outside the non league footy ground watching the FA Cup, you can see the corner flag, a young kid, destined to be a trader is inside the ground, nice cup of coco, knew the game was coming, washed some cars, cut a lawn & bought a ticket.The tide will wash back in next week,hopefully you’ll wash out but I doubt it.IMOH

[nortic 007] 02/2/2018 20:31

Let's see what the Dow futures look like atfter the close.

[eeza] 02/2/2018 20:22

Not an exact science, of course.
But usually what happens.
FTSE 'usually' slavishly follows the Dow.

[mastey] 02/2/2018 20:17

Those just saying I am not selling remind me of gamblers at the Casino must keep going to get my money back. One always gambles with losses . Just think of Portside with his 20 shares averaging down . Ever averaged up when you hold a company going places and buying more.

[nortic 007] 02/2/2018 20:04

It's not an exact science eeza.

[goldpiguk] 02/2/2018 19:58

Hi warranty,

Like you I will not be selling my utility shares. I only own SSE and CNA. SSE's dividend plans outlined this week look feasible. In the case CNA clearly the market does not believe the current dividend is sustainable.

Centrica's final dividend this year may well be maintained but I would not be surprised if an announcement is made that the dividend policy will be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances (political, regulatory). A few years ago Morrisons (MRW) did much the same thing with its dividend for different reasons.

To many in the general public a near 10% yield looks outrageous and they would see that alone as proof they are being ripped off, even though of course this is not the case.

Utility bills have been driven up in no small part because of the politicians and regulators. For example the re-emergence of standing charges for using no gas and the estimated £13+ billion cost of smart meters which the utility companies are having to foot the bill for. What is outrageous is that the big utility companies have failed to put across their side of the story.

Exactly when sentiment towards the sector might change is hard to predict and
CNA of course has its own problems to contend with. Conn and a change of focus for the company - pension deficit - problems in US - size of company debt etc.

The results when they are announced on 22nd February should put investors minds at rest on some of the issues, but the big picture of political risk is unlikely to disappear any time soon.

Goldpig

[eeza] 02/2/2018 19:41

CNA down 1.7% - but with the FTSE off 47pts.
But with the FTSE off by 150 to 200pts ?

We usually follow the Yanks.

[jpjohn1] 02/2/2018 19:21

Sounds a lot, it's -1.7% but it's the same as CNA - 1.7% lost today

[eeza] 02/2/2018 19:10

Yanks throwing the baby out of the pram - off 450 at the moment.
Doesn't auger well for Monday.

[jpjohn1] 02/2/2018 19:08

Yes warranty, CNA price as collapsed but as long as they pay a good dividend I will hang on to them, if the dividend drops a lot or stops I will like the rest of us consider where I will go from there

[warranty] 02/2/2018 18:14

Got to say my "safe" portfolio with CNA, NG, SSE and IMB is looking tragically sick at the moment. I'm not adding but I'm certainly not selling. So far as I can see, all of them, including CNA have assured on dividends, SSE as recently as this week so as a long term holder I'm not unduly concerned.the whole market is struggle ng at the moment so it's across the board. As for Conn saying something, what is there to say? It's clearly sentiment and the things we know about so I'm happy to wait until the results for news.

[mastey] 02/2/2018 18:03

Unfortunately it was only a small trade . With the markets and rising yields perhaps the time to allocate a bit to Crispin Odey funds

[nortic 007] 02/2/2018 17:59

Good weekend

[nortic 007] 02/2/2018 17:59

I wish I had but I pleased you've picked some winners. Always good to hear from you and keep it going.

[mastey] 02/2/2018 17:57

Nortic

Now did you follow me on this one . You said you were going to take a look?



That’s two I have give you

[nortic 007] 02/2/2018 17:31

I know it's of no consolation but I've looked through all the FTSE100/250 stocks and it's been an absolute shocker all round.You'd expect The Sunday Times to run a piece on the utilities this weekend.Have a good one if you can.

[jpjohn1] 02/2/2018 16:44

Yet again, another horrid week for us. In the last 3 weeks we have lost about 11% of its value. 2 weeks ago -4.1p, last week -4.4p and this week -6.05p. When will ever end chaps. Try to have a good weekend whatever your doing and try to forget about these for a few days