National Grid Share Discussion Threads

[gbh2] 13/10/2023 09:26

Boardroom Greed is endemic and not disappearing any time soon imo!

[utyinv] 12/10/2023 14:06

Hi Pierre,

As said having worked in both the Nationalised and Private sectors of the Generation and Transmission business, I can recall the waste and procrastination that occurred.
The amount of new Computers bought at top price to kit out the new GSM Control rooms, which never saw active service due to the fact when V2K occurred, the Computer consoles bought were already obsolete and new IEMS consoles had to be bought. Or when a power station was being decommissioned / moth-balled, I could never understand why we adopted a national practice of painting, doing up all the Power Station offices and Generators that would never again run, before it was sold off for demolition.

Or whilst working in Generation Programming ( before the Generators set up their Privatised EMCs), Gen Prog of Grid System Management had confidential contacts with Regional Headquarters managing a group of Power Stations. I was privy to the cost the CEGB were over paying for British Coal. The price was three times what our overseas competitors were happy to sell us. The high price paid to the then NCB was to fund the 25%pay demands which in time, put the final nail into the British Coal industry. I had many friends who worked within the NCB.
I agree, certain parts of Privatisation didn’t work, ie, suppliers to customers . That is one part of the industry which I think has lost its way. Many owners of these retail suppliers are Shysters who are after a quick buck.

That’s why responsible capitalism and privatisation can benefit society, by providing essential finance to fund needed projects, create incentives for hard work and everyone shares in the profits, staff, shareholders and customers.

I agree there has been some greed that has infiltrated the system. I don’t agree that a CEO should have his pay increase from £6million to £7.2 million when the share price or the Company efficiency hasn’t seen any improvement. When many are struggling with the cost of living it doesn’t feel right.

Privatisation can work if those at the top act responsibly.

When NG was privatised in 1990 the period following coincided with high inflation, similar to today. Then the CEO agreed to increase the Pension Payout for its Pensioners by more than the 5% cap ( a discretion, permitted in the rules, by the Parent Company).
Last April, when the CEO had a pay rise of 20%, Staff in general received 9% and the pensioners only received 5%. Gas Pensions received 12.5%

There are many beneficiaries drawing an ESPS pension that do not enjoy pensions to the same level that many of us enjoy. 5% of FA is still FA.

Privatisation still has my support but those at the top must act responsibly. Increases in senior management remuneration need to be justified.

[nakedmolerat] 12/10/2023 11:35

if it was corbyn yes, but this labour look like they are creating a social energy supplier. i would say it's not an overnight thing, or even if it will work as most new suppliers build up big debts by offering deals and going to the wall

[pierre oreilly] 12/10/2023 10:13

I think you're getting the Unions view confused with labour's. From 2 days ago ...The shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC: "We're not going to nationalise the energy system."

[utyinv] 09/10/2023 20:26

Labour conference have voted to Nationalise Energy and railways.

Despite Starmer wanting to woo business and wanting to work with business, the Unite union are supporting a Corbyn Marxist policy.

Having worked in a Nationalised energy business the waste and inefficiency was terrible to witness. Also Energy costs would be 300% dearer.

Haven’t Labour learnt from what happened in 2019? It wasn’t Johnson the voters voyed for but the anti-vote against Corbyn.

Starmer looks like a good guy and his close sources say this will never be included in Labour’s next manifesto. But as others have said “can we trust him to keep the Marxists at bay”?

If the union officials want a Marxist or Communist State, there is always Russia, North Korea or China who would welcome them with open arms. I was a union member ( professional union) for over 40 yesrs and I am disgusted at how Unite are undermining the good work created by many professional unions

[smith99] 09/10/2023 16:02

Heading for the 800 level imo

[viscount1] 08/10/2023 10:21

NG moves with long duration bonds, so not surprising it would tank recently.

[utyinv] 06/10/2023 13:57

National Grid Hosts Student “Takeover̶1; Ahead of International Day of the Girl
BROOKLYN, NY / ACCESSWIRE / October 4, 2023 / National Grid:
Ahead of International Day of the Girl on October 11, National Grid welcomed a high school student to lead its New York business for a day as part of Plan International USA's annual "Girls Takeover" initiative. The Company participated in the global event-which introduces youth advocates into real-world leadership positions and critical discussions on gender equality at businesses and organizations-to demonstrate its support for opportunities and advancement for girls and women within the energy industry.
National Grid invited sixteen-year-old Leela, an accomplished high school junior, to take on the responsibilities of Rudy Wynter, President of National Grid - New York. Leela experienced firsthand National Grid's commitment to achieving net zero and to delivering a fair, affordable, and clean energy future for its customers and communities.

This doesn’t reflect well on the experience and expertise a President of National Grid USA is perceived to possess if they can be replaced by a 16 year old school girl😂

[nakedmolerat] 06/10/2023 13:36

for a defensive share this is not doing well

[utyinv] 04/10/2023 15:05

Doing it again the yanks. Criminal market manipulation. The US market is massively over valued and the British market massively under valued.

[bountyhunter] 03/10/2023 08:24

That seems about right, for a bit of fun I've put your suggestion in the header with a ? so we can see how close that is :)
Presumably announced 9 Nov.

[utyinv] 03/10/2023 08:18

Thanks Bounty.

I would bet that the interim dividend that will be announced on 9th November will be 18.48p ish

[bountyhunter] 02/10/2023 18:34

Header calendar extended, doesn't time fly!

[utyinv] 02/10/2023 15:21

Need I say it again….㈳4; Yanks at it again! They are a bunch of Shysters. NG should be £20/share

[bountyhunter] 01/10/2023 12:53

Re the UK stock market it's shocking to see how the AIM index has significantly underperformed the FTSE indeces over the last 5 years..



with the FTSE market having underperformed the DOW.

The point being that in the UK market, FTSE 100 shares, especially those with higher yields, have been a fairly good place to be over a 5 year term vs the FTSE 250 or Aim market (but not vs the DOW which has been carried largely by large cap tech shares).

[nakedmolerat] 28/9/2023 12:52

Back down to 950 then!

[skinny] 28/9/2023 09:34

FWIW :- Barclays reinitiates National Grid with 'overweight' - price target 1,300 pence

[utyinv] 25/9/2023 15:52

My last post indicated the philosophy adopted by NG in how much they will pay in dividends for 2023/24. Where the interim dividend is determined as an approximation based on 1/3 the previous years dividends. The final dividemd is calculated by looking at the interim and final of the previous year, times that figure by the average CPIH (April to March), then deduct the interim that is paid early January, leaving the figure for the final, paid next August.

But because the interim is approx 1/3 of the previous year’s interim plus final, which was 55.44p, in total, we are able to deduce, unless policy changes, the interim that will be announced in November but paid in early January would be approx 18.48p

[utyinv] 20/9/2023 07:38

CPIH down from 6.4% in July to 6.3% in Aug ( release date today 20th Sept).

NG divi policy is the average over 12 months taken in April 2024. Today we got Aug’s data.

So to press this year : -
CPIH April 7.8%, May 7.9%, June 7.3%, July 6.4%, Aug 6.3%

Once we get the next seven ( sept, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar) we know exactly what NG will have to pay in dividends based on their well publicised policy.

[hedgefundkick] 09/9/2023 18:43

One of the broadsheets had an article today on the undue waits for small companies to attach their solar or wind to the grid; no fewer than 20,000 companies.The government are in trouble so I can see them letting NG do what is required as and where, I can see the margins being increased in exchange for faster progress.Am I reding this correctly?I'm all in Rolls Royce for Trent engine servicing/ build, and was naturally thinking one up as in the aircraft.This article has opened my eyes to defensive stocks, and those that will ring loud with bill payers and the greens.

[utyinv] 07/9/2023 21:09

anhar,

I understand what you are saying. However, just putting things into perspective. If a tesla car fails or runs out of charge, which not only results in an inconvenience for the person/s getting to where they are going and then having to have it carried on a low loader to a garage for reprogramming, measure that against the consequences of a ‘mal op’ on the Transmission System. Ask yourself how much it cost the ‘City’ when a ‘mal op’ occurred at Hurst, shutting down the ‘City’ for approx 20 minutes, a good few years ago.

Like I said, politicians and Joe Public take for granted essential supplies until it is lost. It’s about time the country got real and started to be willing to pay for essential services. NG is not a charity.

[gbh2] 07/9/2023 10:45

You'd be hard pressed to find a similar business in our markets.

[anhar] 07/9/2023 09:33

Market cap in isolation is meaningless. It only acquires meaning when related to some fundamentals like eps, divis etc. to give P/E or yield. To argue that £100bn is
"not unrealistic", I think you should consider what the P/E, for example, would be at that figure and then try and justify it by comparing the ratios for similar businesses.