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Pin to quick picksSevern Trent Share News (SVT)

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Share Price: 2,406.00
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Ofwat slams water cos over dividend payments, poor performance

Thu, 08th Dec 2022 11:04

(Sharecast News) - The UK's water regulator has slammed some of the country's major providers over the size of dividend payments relative to their financial and operational performance.

Ofwat on Thursday named the six worst firms as it said failings were now virtually embedded in "too many areas" amid public outrage over the pumping of sewage into the sea, rivers and streams and large dividend payments to shareholders, often foreign investors.

A report in the Guardian newspaper last week revealed that the nine main water and sewerage companies had paid out £65.9bn in dividends in the last three decades. They have also taken on debts of £54bn.

Northumbrian Water, Southern Water, South West Water, Thames Water, Welsh Water and Yorkshire Water were all criticised, with Ofwat saying it was "deeply concerned by those that are lagging behind expectations".

Those firms will now have to explain their poor performance and present a clear action plan to turn this around, Ofwat said.

Most companies had "again failed to clearly explain the link between their dividend decisions and payments with performance delivery for customers", it added.

"In particular, both Northumbrian Water and Portsmouth Water fell short of our expectations when considered in the context of the level of dividend they paid, which was significantly higher than our base expectations, and their relative financial resilience."

The report said there had been encouraging progress on leakage, which was now at its lowest level since privatisation.

However, the number of serious pollution incidents increased, with Ofwat revealing earlier this week that water firms are failing to invest as much as they promised to fix their networks, including improving sewage treatment and reducing spills into the environment.

Between 2020 and 2022, 14 companies underspent their budget on improving their water network and eight companies underspent their budget for improving their wastewater network.

Affinity Water and Northumbrian Water spent just 47% and 48% of their water enhancement allowance respectively, and Yorkshire Water and South West Water spent just 20% and 39% of their wastewater enhancement allowance respectively.

The main areas of underspending across both categories included drought resilience, improvements to sewage treatment works, improvements to storm tank capacity and reducing spill frequency.

Ofwat chief executive David Black said: "In too many areas, water and wastewater companies are falling short when it comes to looking after customers, the environment and their own financial resilience. We are clear; these companies need to address this unacceptable performance as a matter of urgency.

"For some companies poor performance has become the norm. This cannot go on. We are requiring the worst performers, including Thames Water and Southern Water, to return around £120m to customers.

"Separate from today's reports, we are taking enforcement action on wastewater treatment works compliance, well as consulting on licence changes that will help us drive through the transformation needed across the water industry."

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com

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23 Nov 2023 15:53

UK dividends calendar - next 7 days

Friday 24 November 
abrdn Asian Income Fund Ltddividend payment date
abrdn Smaller Companies Income Trust PLCspecial dividend payment date
Alternative Income REIT PLCdividend payment date
Close Brothers Group PLCdividend payment date
Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
Edinburgh Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
FW Thorpe dividend payment date
Greencoat UK Wind PLCdividend payment date
Henderson Far East Income Ltddividend payment date
Impact Healthcare REIT PLCdividend payment date
M&G Credit Income Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
MJ Gleeson PLCdividend payment date
Mulberry Group PLCdividend payment date
Next 15 Group PLCdividend payment date
Primary Health Properties PLCdividend payment date
Ricardo PLCdividend payment date
S&U PLCdividend payment date
Smiths Group PLCdividend payment date
Starwood European Real Estate Finance Ltddividend payment date
Target Healthcare REIT PLCdividend payment date
Taylor Maritime Investments Ltddividend payment date
Tesco PLCdividend payment date
Warpaint London PLCex-dividend payment date
Monday 27 November 
CQS Natural Resources Growth & Income PLCdividend payment date
European Opportunities Trust PLCdividend payment date
Tuesday 28 November 
Diverse Income Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Headlam Group PLCdividend payment date
ITV PLCdividend payment date
Wilmington PLCdividend payment date
Wednesday 29 November 
JPMorgan Global Core Real Assets Ltddividend payment date
Thursday 30 November 
3i Group PLCex-dividend payment date
abrdn Property Income Trust Ltddividend payment date
abrdn UK Smaller Companies Growth Trust PLCdividend payment date
Alliance Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
AVI Global Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
AVI Global Trust PLCspecial ex-dividend payment date
BAE Systems PLCdividend payment date
Bankers Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
Bellway PLCex-dividend payment date
Caledonia Investments PLCex-dividend payment date
City Of London Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
CQS New City High Yield Fund Ltddividend payment date
Custodian Property Income REIT PLCdividend payment date
DFS Furniture PLCex-dividend payment date
Diverse Income Trust PLCdividend payment date
Diversified Energy Co PLCex-dividend payment date
Downing Renewables & Infrastructure Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Ecofin Global Utilities & Infrastructure Trust PLCdividend payment date
Ecofin US Renewables Infrastructure Trust PLCdividend payment date
Fidelity Special Values PLCex-dividend payment date
FirstGroup PLCex-dividend payment date
Fonix Mobile PLCdividend payment date
Helical PLCex-dividend payment date
Henderson Diversified Income Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Henderson International Income Trust PLCdividend payment date
Hill & Smith PLCex-dividend payment date
Johnson Matthey PLCex-dividend payment date
JPMorgan European Growth & Income PLCex-dividend payment date
LondonMetric Property PLCex-dividend payment date
Norcros PLCex-dividend payment date
Oxford Instruments PLCex-dividend payment date
Pacific Horizon Investment Trust PLCdividend payment date
Pan African Resources PLCex-dividend payment date
PayPoint PLCex-dividend payment date
Picton Property Income Ltddividend payment date
Pollen Street PLCex-dividend payment date
Premier Miton Global Renewables Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
PZ Cussons PLCdividend payment date
Record PLCex-dividend payment date
RM Infrastructure Income PLCex-dividend payment date
Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust Ltdex-dividend payment date
Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Severn Trent PLCex-dividend payment date
Telecom Plus PLCex-dividend payment date
Temple Bar Investment Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Triple Point Social Housing REIT PLCex-dividend payment date
UK Commercial Property REIT Ltddividend payment date
Utilico Emerging Markets Trust PLCex-dividend payment date
Volex PLCex-dividend payment date
VPC Specialty Lending Investments PLCex-dividend payment date
Warehouse REIT PLCex-dividend payment date
YouGov PLCex-dividend payment date
  
Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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22 Nov 2023 09:51

Severn Trent raises interim dividend and maintains full-year guidance

(Alliance News) - Severn Trent PLC on Wednesday said revenue increased but profit dropped slightly in its latest half year, with its chief executive hailing the "sector-leading performance".

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22 Nov 2023 08:01

Severn Trent on track to grow annual profits despite weaker first half

(Sharecast News) - Wales and Midlands water supply company Severn Trent said it still expects to grow profits this year despite a weaker bottom line in the first half - a period categorised by unprecedented levels of investment across its network.

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15 Nov 2023 15:51

UK earnings, trading statements calendar - next 7 days

Thursday 16 November 
Assura PLCHalf Year Results
Atalaya Mining PLCQ3 Results
Aviva PLCTrading Statement
Burberry Group PLCHalf Year Results
Close Brothers Group PLCTrading Statement
CMC Markets PLCHalf Year Results
Crest Nicholson Holdings PLCTrading Statement
Great Portland Estates PLCHalf Year Results
Halma PLCHalf Year Results
International Distributions Services PLCHalf Year Results
Investec PLC and LtdHalf Year Results
Kier Group PLCTrading Statement
Liontrust Asset Management PLCHalf Year Results
Manolete Partners PLCHalf Year Results
Melrose Industries PLCTrading Statement
Norcros PLCHalf Year Results
Pershing Square Holdings LtdQ3 Results
Premier Foods PLCHalf Year Results
Qinetiq Group PLCHalf Year Results
Spirax-Sarco Engineering PLCTrading Statement
Syncona LtdHalf Year Results
Tatton Asset Management PLCHalf Year Results
Tyman PLCTrading Statement
United Utlities Group PLCHalf Year Results
Young & Co's Brewery PLCHalf Year Results
Friday 17 November 
Record PLCHalf Year Results
Monday 20 November 
Big Yellow Group PLCHalf Year Results
Compass Group PLCFull Year Results
Diploma PLCFull Year Results
Polar Capital Holdings PLCHalf Year Results
Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLCQ1 Results
Sirius Real Estate LtdHalf Year Results
SRT Marine Systems PLCHalf Year Results
Tuesday 21 November 
Accsys Technologies PLCHalf Year Results
AO World PLCHalf Year Results
Avon Protection PLCFull Year Results
Caledonia Investments PLCHalf Year Results
Caledonian Trust PLCHalf Year Results
Calnex Solutions PLCHalf Year Results
Cranswick PLCHalf Year Results
CRH PLCTrading Statement
Eckoh PLCHalf Year Results
Nostrum Oil & Gas PLCHalf Year Results
Petershill Partners PLCTrading Statement
Schroder Global Real Estate SecuritiesHalf Year Results
Schroder Real Estate Investment Trust LtdHalf Year Results
Severfield PLCHalf Year Results
Telecom Plus PLCHalf Year Results
Trifast PLCHalf Year Results
Workspace Group PLCHalf Year Results
Wednesday 22 November 
Britvic PLCFull Year Results
Breedon Group PLCTrading Statement
Coats Group PLCTrading Statement
Grainger PLCFull Year Results
Helical PLCHalf Year Results
HICL Infrastructure PLCHalf Year Results
Johnson Matthey PLCHalf Year Results
Kingfisher PLCQ3 Results
Molten Ventures PLCHalf Year Results
NextEnergy Solar Fund LtdHalf Year Results
Redcentric PLCHalf Year Results
Rotork PLCTrading Statement
Sage Group PLCFull Year Results
Severn Trent PLCHalf Year Results
Shearwater Group PLCHalf Year Results
Speedy Hire PLCHalf Year Results
Ten Lifestyle Group PLCFull Year Results
Tremor International LtdQ3 Results
TT Electronics PLCTrading Statement
Victorian Plumbing Group PLCFull Year Results
  
Copyright 2023 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

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14 Nov 2023 08:55

Most UK water firms to return millions to customers via lower bills

(Alliance News) - Water companies in the UK will be forced to pay out a net total of GBP70 million to customers after falling short of performance targets, industry regulator Ofwat has confirmed.

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17 Oct 2023 12:06

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: European markets uneasy but FTSE 100 outperforms

(Alliance News) - London's FTSE 100 higher was higher around midday, though it was defensive stocks such as utilities and pharmaceuticals which led the charge, suggesting there is still lingering discomfort in markets amid tensions in the Middle East.

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17 Oct 2023 09:21

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: SocGen cuts HSBC to sell; DB down on utilities

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Tuesday morning:

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16 Oct 2023 16:53

LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Europe boosted by bullish open in New York

(Alliance News) - European equities found their groove in afternoon dealings, supported by a decent start in New York, with the lack of an escalation in Middle East tensions enough for investors to buy into equities again.

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16 Oct 2023 13:50

Jefferies upgrades UK water companies

(Sharecast News) - Jefferies upgraded Severn Trent, United Utilities and Pennon on Monday as it took a look at the UK water sector.

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16 Oct 2023 12:03

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: Stocks mixed on conflict and US earnings nerves

(Alliance News) - Global markets got off to a muted start to the week, with tensions in the Middle East, and some trepidation ahead of US corporate earnings keeping a lid on equities.

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16 Oct 2023 09:30

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Jefferies says 'buy' Pennon, United Utilities

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Monday morning and Friday:

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16 Oct 2023 08:51

LONDON MARKET OPEN: Stocks steady as eyes on oil, Israel, US earnings

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London made little headway at Monday's market open, as the prospect of escalation in the Middle East prompted investors to be cautious.

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12 Oct 2023 09:40

LONDON BROKER RATINGS: Goldman Sachs says 'sell' Asos and boohoo

(Alliance News) - The following London-listed shares received analyst recommendations Thursday morning and Wednesday:

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11 Oct 2023 12:10

LONDON MARKET MIDDAY: FTSE 100 outperforms on boost from utilities

(Alliance News) - Stock prices in London were largely lower at midday on Wednesday, as investors nervously eyed two key pieces of US inflation data, though the FTSE 100 pushed higher thanks to gains amongst its utility stocks.

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4 Oct 2023 16:33

London close: Stocks finish in the red after raft of global data

(Sharecast News) - London stocks retreated on Wednesday, reversing earlier gains as investors contended with suboptimal data from the UK services sector and the US jobs market.

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