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

Thanks F, in a rising market I may have been on to this one but I'm "extra" risk averse at the mo.

Look at the downside on that, especially with the flood issues and supplies.

http://www.unitedutilities.com/?OBH=425&ID=1488

Flooding relief for Egremont residents 18 June 2007

Flooding in a part of Egremont should become a thing of the past thanks to a 180,000 investment by water company United Utilities.

Homes on Wodow Road have occasionally suffered because a nearby sewer was not big enough to cope at times of very heavy rain.

With more houses being built over the years and the increased use of hard surfaces which prevent rainwater simply draining away into the ground the sewers built in Victorian times are no longer big enough to cope with the demand 120 years later.

So now United Utilities is replacing the inadequate sewer with a new one which will take excess rainwater and discharge it through a new outfall into the River Ehen nearly a mile away.

The outfall, which has been designed after lengthy consultation with the Environment Agency, is specially designed to disperse the water without disturbing the river bed.

The work has already started, with the new overflow system being laid across farmland close to the river.

Late in June the work will move to the top of the Wodow Road (cul-de-sac), where a new manhole will be installed and about 50 metres of pipe laid before being connected to the existing network.

This will cause a little disruption to local residents, who for a short time will have to park their cars somewhere else.

Afterwards all roads, pavements and agricultural land will be reinstated and reopened.

United Utilities project engineer Simon Smith said: We are lucky that most of the work will take place on agricultural land, so there will be very little inconvenience to people living in the area.

Its not something we can do without causing any disturbance at all to local people, but we will do all we can to keep it to a minimum. We are sure people will agree that the end results will be well worthwhile.

The scheme is typical of the sort of quality-of-life improvements we are carrying out partly funded by customers bills.

Between 2005 and 2010 United Utilities is investing 2.9 billion across the North West to improve water quality and the environment.

Egremont weather forecast.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=1398

Well it is a year ago and I was wishing to see 640 again, now it's here, I think I will wait a bit more......

I hope you got in seawallwalker as we've broken 700p again this morning:

United Utilities said it is on track with its expectations to deliver the first half results ended June 30.

The water and wastewater systems operator said its underlying operating profit for non-regulated activities in the first half is expected to show a modest decrease compared to year ago, although its regulated activities should demonstrate 'good underlying profit growth'.

The company said performance across the contract portfolio is in line with its expectations. 'Whilst new opportunities have been limited, the business continues to benefit from a strong order book and secured revenue streams', it added, in respect of its non-regulated activities.

I am still waiting...........

Where is the bottom?

2009 prelim results seem OK. No mention of final div yet. Assume sell off is due to uncertainty of agreement to new 2010/15 regs.

IMO this is being traded

Currently at March lows! Double bottom or falling knife gone for spec.long

New article and analysis.

http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/9650/united-utilities-defensive-attractions-on-tap-9650.html

Looked at this one as a possible recovery play, unfortunately as long as it keeps making lower highs and lower lows, not yet in contention, but watching may surprise yet! not holding my breath though.

Final Results.

Final results for the year ended 31 March 2010

m Year ended

(continuing operations) 31 March 2010 31 March 2009
(restated)*

Operating profit 817.9 729.5

Underlying operating profit** 756.3 736.1

Profit before tax 474.2 529.3

Underlying profit before tax** 500.4 531.3

Basic earnings per share*** 59.2 26.5
(pence)

Total dividends per ordinary 34.30 32.67
share (pence)

United Utilities Group PLC

22 September 2011

UNITED UTILITIES TRADING UPDATE

United Utilities Group PLC today issues an update for the six months ending 30
September 2011. Current trading is in line with the group's expectations and
the company's operational and efficiency initiatives continue to progress well.
The business remains on track to deliver its outperformance targets.

As outlined in the group's 2010/11 full year results, published on 26 May 2011,
United Utilities has now adopted a single segment for financial reporting
purposes.

Revenue in the first half of this year is higher than the corresponding period
last year, largely as a result of the impact of the regulated price increase
for 2011/12 of 4.5% nominal (0.2% real price decrease plus 4.7% RPI inflation).
However, as outlined previously, operating expenses are also expected to rise,
principally as a result of higher infrastructure renewals expenditure and
depreciation, alongside other inflationary cost pressures. It is anticipated
that regulatory capital investment and depreciation will be higher in the
second half of 2011/12, compared with the first half of the year.

United Utilities' financial position remains robust with the group having
headroom to cover its projected financing needs into the second half of 2013,
consistent with its prudent liquidity policy. Reflecting this robust financing
position, the group intends to accelerate approximately GBP100 million of
previously agreed pension deficit payments, providing a higher investment
return for the group than could have been achieved through short term deposits.

The underlying net finance expense for the first half of 2011/12 is expected to
be slightly higher than the first half of last year. This reflects additional
finance expense relating to the GBP200 million index-linked loan facility with
the European Investment Bank, drawn down between March and May 2011, and
marginally higher RPI inflation in respect of the group's index-linked debt
with an eight month lag.

A deferred taxation credit of approximately GBP50 million will be recognised in
the financial statements for the first half of 2011/12. This follows the UK
government substantively enacting the change to reduce the mainstream rate of
corporation taxation from 26% to 25% from 1 April 2012. A similar credit was
also recognised in the first half of last year.

Group borrowings, net of cash and short term deposits and derivatives, at the
half year are expected to be moderately higher than the position at 31 March
2011. This principally reflects expenditure on the regulatory capital
investment programme, payment of the 2010/11 final dividend and payments in
relation to pensions, interest and tax, partly offset by operational cash
flows.

United Utilities will announce its half year results on 23 November 2011.

Reporting on Wednesday half time figures, with relatively predictable income and a strategy of providing a decent dividend. Yields of around 4 - 5% range are expected
for the full year.

Half Yearly Report.

UNITED UTILITIES INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

United Utilities today issues an interim management statement covering the
period from 1 October 2011.

Trading update

Current trading is in line with the group's expectations of delivering a good
underlying financial performance for 2011/12.

In the first half of 2011/12, revenue increased by around 4%, compared with the
first half of last year, and this trend is continuing. As indicated previously,
infrastructure renewals expenditure and depreciation are expected to be higher
in the second half of 2011/12, compared with the first six months of the
financial year, reflecting good progress on the capital investment programme
and the impact of the transfer of private sewers.

In December 2011, the RPI inflation index for November 2011 was published and
this annual inflation rate will be included in the allowed regulated price
limits for the financial year starting 1 April 2012.

Supporting its renewed focus on operational performance and customer service,
United Utilities continues to implement a wide range of business improvement
initiatives. The company made good progress in the first half of 2011/12,
building on the achievements from the prior year, and this improving trend is
continuing. United Utilities has moved up four places to fifth position, out of
the ten water and sewerage companies, based on Ofwat's quarter three 2011/12
qualitative service incentive mechanism (SIM) assessment. United Utilities is
currently in eighth position on this qualitative measure for the financial year
to date. Encouragingly, the number of customer complaints received via the
Consumer Council for Water has reduced further in the three months to December
2011, positively contributing to Ofwat's quantitative SIM assessment.

United Utilities has continued with its strong year round operational focus on
leakage and is on course to meet its 2011/12 regulatory leakage target. In
addition, water resource levels are robust, with reservoir stocks currently in
excess of 90% and in line with typical levels for this time of year.

The ownership of and responsibility for private sewers was transferred to the
English and Welsh water and sewerage companies from 1 October 2011, providing
additional benefits for customers and the opportunity for further growth in the
regulatory capital value. United Utilities has been preparing for this for some
time to help ensure a smooth transfer and the level of customer contacts and
the increase in work volumes continues to be broadly in line with expectations.
There is no change at this stage to the cost estimates initially outlined in
May 2011.

Financial position

United Utilities' financial position remains robust and its regulatory capital
asset base continues to grow, reflecting continued high levels of capital
investment and positive RPI inflation. Following agreement in November 2011 of
a GBP200 million index-linked term loan facility with the European Investment
Bank, to support delivery of the capital investment programme, the group has
headroom to cover its projected financing needs into 2014, in line with its
policy of maintaining a prudent level of liquidity on a rolling basis. United
Utilities aims to draw down this GBP200 million loan facility, via a number of
tranches, by the end of the 2011/12 financial year.

As expected, group net debt is slightly higher, compared with the position at
30 September 2011, principally reflecting ongoing high levels of capital
investment and after taking account of the 2011/12 interim dividend payment.
Gearing remains stable and in the middle of Ofwat's assumed range (55% to 65%
net debt to regulatory capital value), supporting a solid A3 credit rating for
United Utilities Water PLC.

Political and regulatory developments

DEFRA published the white paper, "Water for Life", on 8 December 2011 which
sets out the UK government's vision for the future of the water industry. On 23
November 2011, Ofwat published the document "Future price limits - a
consultation on the framework". Following this, on 21 December 2011, Ofwat
published a further industry consultation paper in respect of water companies'
conditions of appointment. United Utilities is assessing these papers and will
continue to actively engage with all key parties to help achieve the optimal
outcome for all its stakeholders.

Outlook

United Utilities has made good progress in the early part of the 2010-15
regulatory period and will continue with its strong focus on improving
operational performance, customer service and cost efficiency. Looking ahead,
management is confident of delivering a good underlying financial performance
for the year ending 31 March 2012.

In line with its usual practice, United Utilities intends to issue a pre-close
trading update on 22 March 2012.

Pre-Close Trading Statement.

Final Results.

Anyone any idea why this has taken off like a rocket today? I can't find anything- well, anything that I understand!

Possible takeover target - United Utilities investors agog with anticipation as break-up speculation mounts