United Utilities Share Discussion Threads

[wad collector] 18/6/2019 16:07

Wish I shared your confidence ; unexpected things happen in politics. Who would have predicted that a crazy serial liar would end up in the White House?
Not sure the EU would have control over re-nationalisation.
But I like the idea!

[crossing_the_rubicon] 12/6/2019 14:57

Can England’s water companies clean up its dirty rivers?

Critics blame insufficient capital expenditure since privatisation and a legal loophole that allows sewage to be dumped into waterways

“Part of the fun is people falling into the river but we couldn’t let them do that knowing there is neat, undiluted sewage in it.”

Only 14 per cent of rivers in England met the minimum “good status” standards according to an Environment Agency report in 2018 as defined by the EU Water Framework directive — down from almost 25 per cent in 2009.

But as it stands, none of England’s rivers are safe enough to swim in because of the risk of people getting sick with E. coli, salmonella, campylobacter, adenovirus and ultimately — though rarely — the potentially lethal leptospirosis.



"Unacceptable if true - companies concerned need to be severely fined"

[niggle] 12/6/2019 08:43

This must be gearing up as one of the shorts of the decade. Any sniff that Corbyn gets in and this will plummet.

With a reputed £20bn pot to buy £70bn worth of equity all utilities’ shares face annihilation if Labour get in.

[alphorn] 06/6/2019 16:09

This is probably a safer yield than many. Happy to hold.

[wad collector] 06/6/2019 09:53

"Even if there is one"
There will be one, for sure. Some time in the next 35 months. And with a Government in chaos it just adds to the uncertainty. So do we have confidence that this will remain un-nationalised in 3 yrs time? This is what puts the brakes on the share price No-one can know what will happen ; and if you look at the unreliability of political polls recently , the uncertainty is not resolved. Will Corbyn end up PM , let us hope not , but strange things are happening in elections. Look at what the US voters did!

[bit thick] 02/6/2019 10:45

The risk of Labour nationalising this company is overdone, in my view. The Conservatives are unlikely to agree to an election for fear of losing. Even if there is one, Corbyn is unlikely to get a majority due to the popularity of Brexit party and Lib Dems. I can't see a lot of people queuing up to do a coalition with him, and even if they do, his most radical policies will get moderated. Personally, I think the antisemitism problem will be the end of Corbyn.

[wad collector] 29/5/2019 18:41

Last week's results were strong , though atm the share price is not about the profits , it remains all about politics.

23 May 2019

FULL Year RESULTS FOR THE YEARED 31 MARCH 2019

Putting customers first

-- 10% real reduction in average household bills since 2010, alongside improving customer service

-- The sector's most innovative assistance schemes supporting over 100,000 customers struggling to pay

-- Achieved our best ever customer satisfaction SIM scores, anticipating a reward of around GBP16m for AMP6

Achieved fast-track status for next regulatory period (AMP7)

-- Awarded the highest grades for the sector in Ofwat's initial assessment of company business plans

-- Fast-track status secures greater clarity with a year to go before the start of AMP7
-- AMP6 additional investment increased by GBP100m to facilitate a flying start to AMP7
-- Total outperformance sharing now GBP350m in AMP6 and over GBP600m across AMPs 5 and 6
Strong operational performance delivering shareholder value

-- Pioneering Systems Thinking approach delivering sustained improvement in both operational performance and service for customers

-- Leakage target met for 13 consecutive years
-- Confident of delivering totex outperformance of GBP100m against our AMP6 scope
-- Net wholesale ODI reward of GBP19m for the year, expect cumulative AMP6 reward of around GBP30m

Strong financial performance

-- Underlying operating profit of GBP684.8m (reported operating profit of GBP634.9m)
-- Dividend in line with AMP6 growth policy
-- IFRS pension surplus of GBP484m at 31 March 2019, pension funding deficit eliminated in April 2019

-- Robust capital structure providing resilience and future financial flexibility
Key financials


Year ended
31 March 2019 31 March 2018
-------------- --------------
Revenue GBP1,818.5m GBP1,735.8m
-------------- --------------
Reported operating profit GBP634.9m GBP636.4m
-------------- --------------
Underlying operating profit(1) GBP684.8m GBP645.1m
-------------- --------------
Reported profit after tax GBP363.4m GBP354.6m
-------------- --------------
Underlying profit after tax(1) GBP378.7m GBP304.9m
-------------- --------------
Total dividend per ordinary
share (pence) 41.28p 39.73p
-------------- --------------
Net regulatory capital spend GBP821.0m GBP816.1m
-------------- --------------
RCV gearing(2) 61% 61%
-------------- --------------

[simongn] 16/5/2019 14:03

Was because of this:

[mortimer7] 16/5/2019 12:32

SP dipping ahead of results 23/5. Still mired by threat of Labour party policies?

[wad collector] 17/4/2019 13:41

Not been shorted much in last yr by anyone. Good, though I presume the clever money came and went on previous yrs.

[bambo1] 15/4/2019 09:01

Good to see Marshall Wace LLP finally close their short position on UU.

[cheshire pete] 07/4/2019 20:39

Hello, is there anybody in there, just nod if you can hear me, is there anyone home?
Fell asleep years ago holding this lol.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

[cheshire pete] 04/4/2019 20:57

Was in UU (NWW) at privatisation but not in at minute. Political risk from Corbyn Govt. difficult to weigh up. Is it hot air and sabre rattling to win votes? Would they go through with it if elected? If so, would UU be at the head of the queue or behind Rail, RM e al? Jumped recently when threat of JC receded, as noted above. Wonder what the big boy Instis holding think.

[wad collector] 02/4/2019 13:06

UNITED UTILITIES TRADING UPDATE

United Utilities announces the following trading update ahead of its full year results on 23 May 2019. Current trading is in line with the group's expectations for the year ending 31 March 2019



Solid update but as before the share price is all about politics not finance ...

[alphorn] 20/2/2019 12:06

Dizzy heights!

Reduced exposure a tad.

[alphorn] 19/2/2019 10:32

The logic is sinking in to others today. ;))

[alphorn] 18/2/2019 16:14

wc - beat me to it!

[wad collector] 18/2/2019 16:11

News of a Labour split seems to have pushed the share price to the brink of a 1 yr high. Not that it is much of a split ; more of a small crack really.

[simongn] 31/1/2019 13:34

"Only three out of 17 water firms in England and Wales have passed the latest review by regulator Ofwat.

All firms had to submit plans to cut bills for millions of consumers over the 2020-25 period, while reducing leaks and helping vulnerable customers.

Most failed to meet the regulator's requirements.

But plans from Severn Trent, United Utilities and South West Water were approved. The rest have been told to go back to the drawing board."

More:

[wad collector] 18/1/2019 18:06

Yes that is a one yr closing high today . Still in the red in my portfolio. Like most of it.

[alphorn] 18/1/2019 11:39

Recovery continues; losses diminishing by the day!

[bit thick] 17/1/2019 15:51

Price here driven down by the fear of re-nationalisation under a Corbyn government. People are realising that is not very likely now.

[alphorn] 16/1/2019 12:38

Some share price recovery these last few weeks; current yield of 5.07% per HL.