Shares of United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU) have been given a consensus rating of “Buy” by the nine research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 1,008.83 ($12.41).
UU has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of United Utilities Group from GBX 1,100 ($13.54) to GBX 1,020 ($12.55) and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price objective on shares of United Utilities Group from GBX 920 ($11.32) to GBX 910 ($11.20) and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 16th. Royal Bank of Canada raised United Utilities Group to an “outperform” rating and dropped their price target for the stock from GBX 1,025 ($12.61) to GBX 975 ($12.00) in a research report on Tuesday, April 7th. Deutsche Bank reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of United Utilities Group in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price target on United Utilities Group from GBX 996 ($12.26) to GBX 950 ($11.69) and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, June 10th.
LON:UU opened at GBX 870.60 ($10.71) on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 915.22 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 929.17. The firm has a market cap of $5.94 billion and a PE ratio of 55.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 282.34. United Utilities Group has a 12-month low of GBX 9.10 ($0.11) and a 12-month high of GBX 1,104 ($13.59).
The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 25th will be issued a GBX 28.40 ($0.35) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.28%. This is an increase from United Utilities Group’s previous dividend of $14.20. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 25th. United Utilities Group’s payout ratio is 275.64%.
In related news, insider Russ Houlden sold 22,966 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 924 ($11.37), for a total transaction of £212,205.84 ($261,144.28).
About United Utilities Group
United Utilities Group PLC provides water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It is also involved in renewable energy generation, corporate trustee, financing, and property management activities; and the provision of consulting and project management services. The company operates 42,000 kilometers (km) of water pipes; 77,000 km of wastewater pipes; 568 wastewater treatment works; and 88 water treatment works.
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