National Grid Share Discussion Threads

[gateside] 04/7/2019 21:17

Coalitions work all over Europe, but political parties have a single mindedness in the UK due to the archaic First Past The Post voting system. I do not think that the SNP will go into coalition with Labour, besides it would probably need to be a Rainbow coalition with Lib Dems, Welsh Nationalists etc. in order to get a majority. So the chances of Labour Nationalising NG. and other sectors if the Economy are slim, and I see NG. and other utilities as current good value.But hey... I might be wrong.

[utyinv] 04/7/2019 19:30

Gateside,

The SNP have the same socialist policies as the current Labour Party.

Though Corbyn has said there will be no coalition with the SNP, when push comes to shove, if they are first past the post then there will be a coalition set up as Corbyn will do ANYTHING to get the keys to No10 in order to create the new economic revolution his Marxist comrades advocate.

Look at MacDonnell, he is now supporting the idea of being a remain party?????? Why? Because he will go against anything he believes in to get into the Treasury chair.

Boris and Hunt have said they will take the UK out of Europe. However, if you think that all will be fine on 1st Nov think again. If you listen to the European news there is talk that if the Conservatives exit the EU the EU commission would consider allowing the UK to rejoin if there was a change of Government in the UK (anything to keep us in ).

The polls are showing Labour as behind, but have a look at the TV news, papers etc. The big shots from Labour, MacDonnell, Keir Starmer, Long-Bailey, Emily Thornbury (who are always on the TV despite claiming they don’t get any coverage), are all on holiday so to speak, because all the focus is about Boris and Hunt and their policies. Wait till the Conservative election is over and these big hitters will be passing vile rhetoric about either person’s policies. Whilst this internal election is ongoing it’s giving people the feel-good factor, hence feeling that work pays, investments are secure and the future looks bright. Come the end of the election watch all the Marxist resurrect their heads and claim the BBC should make amends for all the publicity they have given to the Conservative Party during June and July. So don’t be surprised if an election is called and the Labour Marxists are given more air time than the Conservatives. The BBC (a Left Wing institution) will challenge any claim of bias during an election by publishing minutes of air-time for each party during the year, even though the majority of air-time minutes allocated to the Conservative Party has been clocked up during this internal election. I hope I am wrong but the way I see it the Marxists are plotting whilst having a nice holiday.

[gateside] 04/7/2019 18:07

Labour used to return 40+ MPs from Scotland, which they lost to SNP - this makes a labour majority very unlikely.

[10576190] 04/7/2019 16:33

Just selling down about a third of my holding, too exposed to JC & labour.

It's all right saying JC will not get in but right now I would not vote for any of them, what a mess they have made of things.

On a labour win with Nationalisation you could well be looking at £3.00 a share in exchange for a Bond with a 2-3% return on said Bond.

For me this is just to much of a potential risk. I will keep a holding but still realistically need to shift another third.

[utyinv] 04/7/2019 14:27

1carus,

Very much still in. Large holding!

But I must add that I have medium to large ( relatively speaking) holdings in other companies that usually off-set the volatility from this stock.

Just wish JP would listen to analysts who are now querying why NG doesn’t mitigate the risk of a Labour Gov by separately listing in the US, something I was advocating for years.

If they did I believe we would see a return to £12 / share

[1carus] 04/7/2019 12:56

UTY, do you still hold a position here or are you out?

[utyinv] 04/7/2019 08:29

1Carus,

In answer to your question, I doubt it!

I have been saying for years that the UK and US business should be separately listed. That way you can protect shareholder value. Though Ofgem has no call on the US business, it is no surprise that some Left Wingers at Ofgem believe NG are getting a nice profit from the US and that should subsidise the draconian returns from the UK business.

Also, my fear is that if Labour do get into power and Nationalise NG as a whole they could sell the US business back to an American Company and use the proceeds to issue Bonds

[1carus] 04/7/2019 05:13

If Labour were to win an election, which is looking unlikely, and if the share price today equates close to the value of the activities in the US, it seems like a fair hold still to me. I have rather a lot of these and it's not been fun holding them for the last 2 years tbh, I am now about even on my original share price, so at least I can now look at my divi payments as profit for now. Is there any confidence that the biz would protect shareholder value if it looked likely that Labour would win an election?

[veryniceperson] 03/7/2019 16:48

UtyINV Thanks for your informative posts, good luck with everything. Still got my SSE well down on them, need to get over 1400. Going to put my money from NG into Merchant Trust, a steady share paying 5.3% at present price.

[utyinv] 03/7/2019 16:25

Veryniceperson,

Good luck👍 There are many other tasty dividend related Companies that are currently undervalued and outside the reach of Corbyn and MacDonnell.

My concern is not Corbyn as he will be gone soon IMO but the extreme left wing Marxists like MacDonnel Long-Bailey and many other younger Marxists who will try and appeal to riff-raff (want something for nothing) voters.

Trouble is, the SNP, the Greens and many other fringe parties support Nationalisation.

Once Boris or Hunt get us out of EU there will be no use for the Brexit Party and their voters will return to the main party following.

By accident, we could end up with a Marxist Gov and even if they don’t get their way in Nationalising everything they will no doubt force Ofgem to make the current dividend return impossible.

I hope I am wrong but the ‘green eyed’ values that the Marxists possess will make business difficult. AIMO only.

[veryniceperson] 03/7/2019 15:31

Just sold my holding after 6 years. Small profit and lots of dividends over the time. Sad day moving on. Ofgem getting to big for there boots.

[utyinv] 03/7/2019 13:57

10576190,

The proposed business plan doesn’t say much other than NG is using OFGEMs draconian ROE and asking for views from stakeholders as to what they recommend NG to do based on little more than 4%.

It’s easy to see that NG should tell OFGEM where to get off and invest the absolute minimum in this Country if that is how a Private well run business is to be treated by the UK regulator.

IMV NG should invest its time and money in the USA where there is an open and level playing field to business.

NG is not a charity it is a fully Privately owned business and if there isn’t any reward to work hard and invest they should sell the UK business to foreign competitors and screw Labour and their Marxists plans.

Rather sell the UK business, than as mentioned on this bb before, 1 penny of worth is given to Labour’s nasty Marxists party.

[10576190] 02/7/2019 16:21

No I think this is the reason:

hxxps://investors.nationalgrid.com/~/media/Files/N/National-Grid-IR-V2/riio-2/riio-2-draft-business-plan-submission-gas-transmission-executive-summary.pdf

[utyinv] 02/7/2019 15:46

Buywell3,

Post 7003 (20 May 2019):

Forecasting a fall to £7 and below was fortunately very wrong. Maybe down to the fact that Labour is now looking very unlikely to get any majority at the next election and the Party are now looking at Corbyn and MacDonnell as extremists and out of touch.

[bountyhunter] 30/6/2019 15:39

With annuity rates so low as a consequence of the ongoing excessively low interest rates income drawdown is looking to be a favourable option for market based pension schemes (after perhaps taking 25% tax free), at least until interest rates rise significantly from current levels if we are to live long enough to see that.

[atlantic57] 30/6/2019 14:08

1carus no one can predict the future with any accuracy.Slashing interest rates were supposed to be slashed for a temporary period.Ten years on they appear to be a permanent feature.

A German guy saved regular amounts into his Pension scheme but drew on it at the time of Economic collapse and hyper inflation in the Weimar Republic.
He cashed in his pension and bought a loaf of bread.

Am I suggesting this will happen again no I am not.
At the same time there can be no certainty as to where current policies will end up.

[newbank] 30/6/2019 13:52

1carus,

My fear is that by the time most of us, who don't yet qualify for a State pension, get to the qualifying age, the pension will be 'Means Tested'.

The way things are going and with Labour wanting to screw financially independant pensioners the unthinkable might just happen. :(

[1carus] 29/6/2019 21:33

Pvb. I kinda get your point, but anyway of banking cash without HMRC taking a chunk feels like you are getting something back.With regard to paying tax on pensions, I have planned to avoid that as much as possible by saving into isa shares since the late 90s rather than a pensio scheme, now that will be tsx free. Additional, I work for myself, and since the gov started tinkering with the dividend rules I have paid I to a pension instead. Intrrestigly my company does not have to pay corporation tax on pension contributions - and a quarter of it will be available to me in a tax free lump sum in a few years. My income from pension will be at least matched by my Income from isa activity, paying little to no tax on either.

[pvb] 28/6/2019 20:40

1carus 26 Jun '19 - 16:34 - 7117 of 7121

I think the thing
that grabbed me about the pension scheme was that the company contributes for free and the gov gave an extra 20pc. It
Just seemed the right thing to do... As soon as I started as an apprentice I was enrolled in it by default somehow.

Just one small point. The government didn't give you "an extra 20pc". Like all contributions to a pension scheme, income tax isn't charged on money going into your pension - 'cos it ISN'T your 'income'! (Try spending it.)

Hopefully, you will in time benefit - when you receive your pension income. Then, you will be charged income tax on it (allowing for Tax allowances etc.)

[atlantic57] 28/6/2019 18:24

1 November 2019 is going to be an interesting date.

[newbank] 28/6/2019 17:34

Beckers2008,

Still got Gas Transmission. They have only got rid of Gas Distn which was part of the option deal in 2017, with the option to sell remaining stake in 2019.

However, regarding the future strategy, my sentiments entirely. I have reiterated that view to JP in person many times. 'Maybe' he is starting to realise that the UK regulator doesn't want a level playing field but would rather NG be run as a charity to give to those that want something for nothing :)

I would happily pay 15% IRS tax on divi's rather than one penny to a possible totalitarian Marxist State Gov.

Unfortunately, Business investment sentiment will continue to be in the doldrums in this Country, even after Brexit, until the threat of a Marxist Labour Gov is replaced with a more sensible Centrist Socialist view which I and many Investors / professionals could live with :)

[beckers2008] 28/6/2019 12:51

NG. now out of UK gas, now only regulatory works and agreed projects that NG. quote in advance.
Soon to be over 60% of sales in the USA, I support the trend and eventually getting out of broke Britain.

"These funds will be reinvested in the business, supporting the significant capital investment programme and asset growth across the Group over the medium term"
And mostly going across the pond for a reasonable ROI.

Next step, split up the business.

[1carus] 26/6/2019 16:34

I think the thing
that grabbed me about the pension scheme was that the company contributes for free and the gov gave an extra 20pc. It
Just seemed the right thing to do... As soon as I started as an apprentice I was enrolled in it by default somehow.