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

StockMarketWire.com
United Utilities has improved its H1 pretax profit to GBP215.6m, from GBP204.7m. It also hiked its interim dividend to 12.81p, from 12.56p. Revenue, however, was marginally lower at GBP857.0m, from GBP859.4m.

CEO Steve Mogford said:
"Our strong performance across 2010-15 means that we enter the next five-year period with good momentum. We were delighted to end last year as one of the top water and wastewater companies, as measured by Ofwat's recently published KPIs and the Environment Agency's latest assessment.

"Investment ahead of the 2015-20 period gave us a smooth start to our five-year programme, which we are accelerating to deliver further improvements for customers and the environment. We expect to invest around £800 million this year.

"Having delivered sector leading improvement in customer satisfaction over recent years, we were disappointed customers in parts of Lancashire were inconvenienced as a consequence of a water quality incident this summer.

"We restored water quality as quickly as possible and full service was resumed by early September. We paid customers compensation and this, along with associated costs, will be borne by the company. We are working closely with the Drinking Water Inspectorate on the incident who will issue its report in due course.

"Our progress over the first six months of this new regulatory period underpins our confidence that our targets remain tough but within reach. We are well placed to deliver further value for customers, shareholders and the environment underpinned by a robust capital structure and good credit ratings."

StockMarketWire.com
United Utilities said current trading is in line with the group's expectations for the year ending 31 March 2016.

"The 2015-20 regulatory price review means our customers are benefiting from lower prices, which came into effect on 1 April 2015, as well as continued substantial investment in our assets," it said in a statement.

Group revenue is expected to be marginally higher than last year, as the impact of lower allowed regulated revenue for 2015/16 is more than offset by higher than assumed volumes and an increase in sales in United Utilities non-regulated business.

Underlying operating profit for 2015/16 is in line with management expectations, albeit lower than 2014/15. This reflects the new regulated price controls, an expected increase in IRE, depreciation, employee and other operating costs, partly offset by a reduction in bad debts and regulatory fees.

In line with United Utilities' planned acceleration, IRE is expected to be around £20 million higher than last year.

Reported operating profit will be impacted by additional costs and asset impairments incurred in relation to the unprecedented flooding incidents which occurred during December 2015, although we expect these charges to be largely offset by insurance proceeds.

Overall, we do not expect these extreme weather events to have a material impact on United Utilities. In addition, as outlined previously, we incurred costs of around £25 million relating to the water quality incident last summer, which were recognised in the first half of the 2015/16 financial year.

Costs relating to business retail market reform are expected to be around £10 million for the full year, of which £5 million was recognised in the first half. To provide a more representative view of business performance, these adjusting items will be excluded from the underlying profit measures.

The underlying net finance expense for 2015/16 is anticipated to be around £20 million lower than 2014/15, reflecting the impact of lower RPI inflation on United Utilities' index-linked debt and a lower rate of interest locked-in on United Utilities' nominal debt.

As the company continues to invest in its asset base, we expect a modest increase in group net debt at 31 March 2016 compared with the position at 30 September 2015.

This principally reflects capital expenditure, payment of the 2015/16 interim dividend and payments in relation to interest and tax, largely offset by operational cash flows. Gearing remains comfortably within United Utilities target range of 55% to 65% net debt to regulatory capital value, supporting a solid A3 credit rating for United Utilities Water.

HALF YEAR RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2016


Highlights

· Further improvements in customer satisfaction: our best AMP6 score on Ofwat's service incentive mechanism

· Effective acceleration of capital investment continues: £383m invested in first half, c£800m planned for full year

· On track to meet our 2015-20 totex and outcome delivery incentives (ODI) targets

· Innovation and new technology through Systems Thinking approach driving further operational improvements

· Attained industry leading company status as measured by the Environment Agency

· Operating profit slightly ahead of last year

· Good financial performance, robust capital structure and effective pensions hedging

· Interim dividend of 12.95 pence per share, an increase of 1.1% in line with policy

More.....

Macquarie today reaffirms its outperform investment rating on United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU.) and cut its price target to 1000p (from 1100p).

StockMarketWire.com
United Utilities has posted an improved FY pretax profit of £442.4m, up from £353.5m, in what it said was a strong performance.

Total dividend for the year was 38.87p a share, up 1.1% from 38.45p, and in line with policy. Revenue was £1.70bn, up from £1.73bn.

CEO Steve Mogford said this performance had enabled United to commit to a further £100m of additional investment in the region.

"This will support our resilience projects bringing additional customer benefits over the next three years," he said in a statement.

United had achieved its best ever customer satisfaction scores under Ofwat's Service Incentive Mechanism (SIM). "The acceleration of our investment programme continued delivering the early benefit of operational efficiencies and means we have de-risked a number of our Outcome Delivery Incentive (ODI) measures," said Mogford.

"This contributed to another net ODI reward and improves our likely cumulative outcome over the five-year period. Our Systems Thinking approach is unparalleled in the sector and is delivering a radically different way of managing our business.

"Our performance in the early part of this regulatory period puts us in an industry leading position and demonstrates that we are well placed to deliver further value for customers, shareholders and the environment. This is supported by a robust capital structure and good credit ratings."

.

Er Stan - this is the United Utilities thread :-)

..Oh really some people -);

HSBC today reaffirms its buy investment rating on United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU.) and cut its price target to 1000p (from 1070p).

Goldman Sachs today reaffirms its neutral investment rating on United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU.) and set its price target at 778p.

StockMarketWire.com (27.03.18)
United Utilities said it expected to post a 'moderately' higher underlying profit for the year through March, in line with its expectations.

Revenue was expected to be 'slightly lower' than last year, which the company said reflected regulatory revenue changes, partly offset by a one-off accounting gain from its Water Plus retail joint venture.

Infrastructure renewals expenditure, meanwhile, had increased slightly in the second half of the year, although full-year spending was expected to be similar to last year, the company said.

Retail price index inflation increased this year and United Utilities said it was expected to increase the company's regulatory capital value by around £400m.

But since the company was hedged for inflation, there was also an impact of higher RPI inflation on its index-linked debt. Consequently, it expected its underlying net finance expense to be around £40m higher than last year.

A small increase in group net debt at 31 March 2018 was expected, compared with the position as at 30 September 2017.

United Utilities posted its half-year results for the six months ended 30 September on Wednesday, reporting underlying operating profit of £367.8m, up from £344m year-on-year. The FTSE 100 company said its interim dividend was in line with its AMP6 growth policy, declaring a distribution of 13.76p, up from 13.24p. Its board said it had a "robust" capital structure and strong pensions position, providing resilience and financial flexibility going forward.