They are a prime target for a takeover. A buy and hold jobby. DYOR

Why should they drop 22p today?

Ex dividend parrisf, and by not as much as the dividend which is a good sign.

You beauty!!!

Target 646.

If this goes on, I may switch to SAB and try to do the same. (price permitting of course).

Hello SWW - nice to see you on here :-)

That'll do me thanks.

Back for the interim.

Don't mention it.

queen1 - I am looking at SAB for nexr week.

The sp dropped back from intraday high, but I would like another 10p off that before I buy.

Just a loud thought in case you wish to have a look see too.

The current weakness is due to a strike call in USA and weakness in the Rand.

Worth considering just to take the divi, in my case I had to sell UU. to do it.

Interesting, I shall peer & ponder.

Thanks Queen1 for info. I'm holding and in profit and a good divi.

Good for you parrisf. Me too!

Often the right thing to do perring...........

See how it pans out!

Today's statement see's the company on-track with even a few positive comments about Vertex. Good & steady.

Managed to break through the 700p barrier this week and just about staying above it at present. If it can be held until the end of the day next week could be good.

Will look much better at 640p again.

3 months should do it all imo and I am wishfully thinking.

I don't think we'll be seeing 640p again for some time, at least I hope not :-)

Never know.......

Solid results out today. And three months on SWW I'm pleased to see that we're nowhere near your 640p price hope!

Water and power group, United Utilities, posted a 14% increase in underlying pretax profits. Numbers were underpinned by a good financial performance in United Utilities North West.

For the six months to September 30th, the group recorded a pretax profit of 282m, up from 248m the prior year and in line with analysts' forecasts. The interim dividend was 14.63p per share, up 2.4% on a year earlier, while earnings per share reached 25.7p.

No harm in trying queen1.

It's a great stock and safe!

Handy dividend as well.

Yep!