National Grid Share Discussion Threads

[srpactive] 02/1/2018 22:08

1

I am not holding as already explained, but I would
look for 850p to hold for a while before making a decision.
As 750p could be possible dyor.

[utyinv] 02/1/2018 17:45

Divi a week tomorrow.

[1olddog] 02/1/2018 17:30

Well if it goes to 850, I am adding.

[srpactive] 02/1/2018 14:39

861.8p needs to hold or looking at 850p, dyor.

[bountyhunter] 28/12/2017 19:10

Thanks UtyINV, I certainly hope the many interesting posts and sensible debates continue here for (at least) another 11 years and that JC doesn't wind the bb up!

A Happy & Prosperous 2018 to all contributors!

[gateside] 28/12/2017 18:03

Want to add that I have really enjoyed the in depth, polite and intellectual discussion on this thread. Thanks to all and let's hope 2018 is a good year for NG.

[utyinv] 28/12/2017 17:57

on the 16th Dec I posted data from the NYSE website showing the short Interest on NG US ADR's (Hedge Funds shorting ADR’s on the other side of the 'Pond'), as at 30th Nov. That data showed that the Short interest had been reduced from 0.27% on 15th Nov to 0.2% on the 30th Nov.

The data is published two weeks after the event (on the free website).

Yesterday's update for the two week ending 15th Dec shows a further reduction from 0.2% to 0.17%.

Draw your own conclusions but IMV it shows that Hedge Funds are closing their shorts and concentrating elsewhere.

FYI, in comparison to other Companies across a range of Sectors , ie, Energy, Pharma's, Miners, Retail, Banks etc the level of 0.17% is very low! Looking at the comprehensive list you may be surprised at the many FTSE 100 Companies where there is a considerable Short Interest :)


I would like to take this opportunity to wish you ALL a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! Bounty thanks for administering this bb for over 11+ years. I hope you will continue to do so for many more. Its appreciated! 👍

[veryniceperson] 23/12/2017 12:07

Thanks to all, very well informed post on this thread. Have learnt a lot about NG over the past year. So would like to wish all a Merry Christmas and a decent new year. Thanks again.

[warranty] 23/12/2017 09:29

I'll second that Uty, many thanks to yourself, bounty and all the other contributors to this board. A merry Christmas and New Year to you all.

[bountyhunter] 23/12/2017 09:16

Cheers UtyINV, & Happy Xmas & NY to you and all the other regular contributors here!

[utyinv] 23/12/2017 08:43

A Happy Christmas to all Investors and contributors to this B.B.
Special Thanks to Bountyhunter who meticulously updates the board with data as and when it’s needed! It is appreciated! Thanks Bounty....round of applause.....
👏👏👏

[shawzie] 22/12/2017 20:41

UtyINV thanks for post.
Possible wide-ranging infrastructure spending in the US, growth opportunity for NG?
As you point out, where NG spends (US or UK) will give a good pointer to source of earnings in future.

[utyinv] 22/12/2017 18:54

Some points mentioned in a US Journal on how the tax cuts will effect Companies are listed below. I have omitted some points that may not be relevant to NG and have tried to clarify how some point might benefit NG with details in the Brackets.
The points are an independent assessment, ie, NOT my opinion other than what I have added in Brackets:

1. Cutting the corporate tax rate will promote higher long-term economic growth.

3. Cutting the corporate tax rate will lead to higher wages and living standards.

4. Cutting the corporate tax rate will boost entrepreneurship, investment, and productivity. (NG investing in Battery Storage and Electric Car Charging infrastructure)

5. Cutting the corporate rate lowers the tax burden on low-income taxpayers and seniors (Might benefit NG in reducing Labour Inflation Costs also if Pensioners have the feel good factor return they might not feel too bad paying for energy)

6. Cutting the corporate rate will lower the overall dividend tax rate and taxes on capital. (Will effect Shareholders of ADR's)

7. Cutting the corporate tax rate can attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

8. Cutting the corporate rate would lead to lower corporate debt and reduce the incentives for income shifting. (90% of Corporate Debt was switched to US$ last year in a move that Andrew Bonfield [CFO] thought was beneficial to NG.)

9. Cutting the corporate tax rate can reduce compliance costs.

NG is definitely a Long Term bet IMV. Hence my interest in the next 12 months will be to look at corporate data to see if the newly adopted strategy of switching investments to US rather than predominantly investing in UK is starting to pay off. NG has spent £billions in UK infrastructure with the hope that this spend will be recouped from customers in the future. With the threat (only a threat to date) that Labour if they gain power might at some stage Nationalise the UK bit, and the incompetence of our Government to put out statements of Price Caps without any substance or how it will work; I will be interested to see if the 'Board' starts to say "Sod that, if we aren't going to get a decent return no point in ploughing good money for something you aren't going to get a return on". This will become evident in the amount of investments spent on the US vs UK (excluding Interconnectors etc).

National Grid is NOT a charity so why bother spending to improve infrastructure which would secure reliability and bring down consumer costs, if what they do is a one way street where shareholders are being shafted. :)

[shawzie] 22/12/2017 14:39

How does the tax reduction in USA affect NG?

[bountyhunter] 22/12/2017 13:10

UtyINV - I agree with your comments re energy vs water - I'm happy enough with my energy bills (E&G) but not happy at all about metered water which costs me more than the first two put together! The problem with water is that there is no choice of supplier (although I believe some businesses do have a choice) so the incumbent effectively has a monopoly. Also in the days before metering I told my family they could use what they like but now since the mandatory meter has been put in they still remember that I think!

[utyinv] 22/12/2017 08:33

BTW do we know if the Market closes at half day today?

[utyinv] 22/12/2017 08:19

Pogue,

McDonnel when questioned in an interview about the possibility of Nationalisation quoted the French Water system in Paris and how that was brought back into Gov Control. Implying he could easily do that for Water. Hence the order of preference.

Also there are political upheavals in trying to bring something back under Gov Control when it’s a Private Company operating predominantly in an anti-communist super nation like the USA.

Complaints with regards Energy is not as bad as the many complaints about water IMV. The Energy complaints are mostly about selling and the lack of ease of some customers to transfer (despite transferring providers should be easy). To tackle the big six (which most of the Energy complaints are targeted at) would take time logistically.

Public opinion about water is more deaply felt than one imagines. Something that falls from the Sky (water), should intrinsically be free and the amount of complaints about water bills is on the rise.

AIMO :)

[septimus quaid] 22/12/2017 04:54

In all but name, Corbyn/McDonnell are looking to reinstate Clause IV of the Labour Party’s original constitution (rescinded by Blair 20 years ago as part of his “modernisation plans” for the Labour Party).

The original Clause IV, written in typical socialist weasel-speak, goes:

To secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.

Which basically translates to “nationalise anything and everything”.

After their hyperbolic reporting, during the original removal of Clause IV, the BBC are now playing down its quasi-reinstatement. I wonder why?

[pogue] 22/12/2017 03:47

I am not so sure of your order of nationalisation I think they he will go for energy first as they are the most profitable plus energy is the industry the politicians complain about most hence the public believe them to be ripping them off so getting the bad boys first gets more votes. Difficulty is not going to come into play I feel as these nationalisations are ideological not logical.

[utyinv] 21/12/2017 23:15

Dandu69,

It’s been in the news, papers and Interview of the Marx Bros by Andrew Marr!

They hope to swap the National Grid UK part of the business for Government Bonds. But McDonnell didn’t want to be pressed on how much it would cost (because the Bonds will be based on the Price at the time) hoping that if they do get into power at the next election in 2022 then Institutional Investors will dump out of Grid, the price dives and the cost will be minimal!

McDonnell has said he only wants to take back the U.K. energy industry! Over 60% of the business is in the US and in 2019 when Grid sells off the remaining 39% of the costly, highly regulated low profit U.K. Gas Distn business, the US business will be 66% vs 33% in the U.K.

But they - Marx Bros - have to get in first and then due to complexities he (McDonnell) is likely to go after Rail, then Water, Royal Mail and then Energy, so it could be left to their second term rather than first. So if they do get in at the 2022 election it could be after 2027 before they get round to Energy.

AIMO only!

Interesting to see how the share price performs after the New Year in the run up to final results in May. Most of Grids profits both in UK and US come in the second half!

[dandu69] 21/12/2017 17:48

If the gov`tment were to nationalize what would happen to your shares?? Presumably a compulsory purchase of some sort?

[pogue] 20/12/2017 02:50

UtyINV
your friend's comments about Labour agrees with what I see in general they are a far harder bunch than the 70s and more determined I still feel they will win though as Brexit will poison the water for any party in power and lies about how great a socialist world will be will con many who feel living in the UK is too expensive now especially those wanting to buy a house and/or have a low income. Sincerely hope I am wrong.