Any thoughts on the company?


Red line 200 MA

24 Mar 2015 "Deutsche Bank cuts Centrica to 'sell' from 'hold', target cut from 280p to 225p"

Much higher than normal volume today

Reassuringly consistent!

Deutsche Bank Sell 133.70 125.00 125.00 Reiterates

StockMarketWire.com
Centrica's operating profit fell 17% to £1.25bn in the year to the end of December, weighed by poor performance in its business energy supply units both in the UK and North America.

The firm recorded a £476m post-tax net exceptional charge, relating to impairments of E&P assets and Rough.

Centrica lowered its net debt by 25% to £2.6bn while group revenue was up 3% on the previous year, at £28bn.

EBITDA was down 9% year-on-year and adjusted operating cash flow was down 23%. Adjusted earnings were down 22% to £698m, resulting in adjusted EPS of 12.6p per share.

Centrica Business adjusted operating profit was down by 67% to £161m amid intensifying competition which weighed on unit margins while warmer weather impacted consumption in its energy supply business units in the UK and North America.

The firm's UK business was also impacted by high electricity cost volatility in Q1. While In North America, low gas price volatility resulting from the warmer weather reduced opportunities for gas optimisation which further depressed margins.

The firm is targeting adjusted operating cash flow of £2.1bn to £2.3bn per annum on average and capital reinvestment limited to no more than £1.2bn per annum for the 2018 to 2020 period.

Iain Conn, Group CEO, said: 'Our financial result in the second half of 2017 was weak, primarily reflecting poor performance in Business energy supply and particularly in our North America Business unit.'

'The combination of political and regulatory intervention in the UK energy market, concerns over the loss of energy customers in the UK, and the performance issue in North America have created material uncertainty around Centrica and, although we delivered on our financial targets for the year, this resulted in a very poor shareholder experience.'

Divi being held on reduced EPS, nice to see debt being cut. Market seems to like it, and I'm in the blue for the first time since buying last month

RBC Capital Markets Outperform 146.40 150.00 175.00 Upgrades

Kepler Cheuvreux Buy 141.13 190.00 160.00 Reiterates

Thought the conditions favoured CNA enough for a decent uplift.

Yes - I've had 2 stabs at these in the last couple of months @177.19 & 129.70p.🤞

I went for one slug @133p. Good luck skinny. Now a director has picked up 40K @141p

My largest holding is with CNA, been buying from the 120's up to current level.

I will tuck these away. I can say CNA are doing a lot of good things in Windsor, starting to manage their business well, expect the cost base (like for like) to be slashed over the next 12 months.

I am close to this firm.

Mr Euro, well done getting from the 120's. My misfortune was to start buying in pre Ed Miilband in the low 300's...but at least I have a decent income from the stock, much more on my later day purchases. I have the patience to wait but will my body have the same patience, then again if it doesn't what does it matter LOL
GLA

Indeed.

I got the timing wrong today, nvm.

You certainly have patience! Not sure when we will see the 300's again but I can say they are doing all the right things as a company. People have faith in the new leadership and the internal programes have serious traction and decent results. I heard one small event last week saved close to £1m (£60%), they are getting to grips with running the business and morale has vastly improved (employees are rewarded with shares). May take a while but these efforts will come through in the results this year.

Best of luck.

MR Euro, how are the employees taking the upcoming 4000 job losses? It seems a bit extreme to me but if they can manage without them now what have they been doing in the past to justify their emploment?

CEO picked up 100K following the CFO who bought 40K

Credit Suisse today reaffirms its outperform investment rating on Centrica PLC (LON:CNA) and raised its price target to 175p (from 170p)

After such a L O N G time, back above the 200 ma.

Of all the Utilities on my list CNA is the best performing.