United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• United Utilities Group has a consensus analyst rating of "Hold", with seven brokerages covering the stock: five hold ratings and two buy ratings. The average 12-month price target is about GBX 1,431.43.
• Several analysts recently adjusted their views, with price targets ranging from GBX 1,320 to GBX 1,550. Notably, Deutsche Bank and RBC raised targets, while Citigroup trimmed its target and kept a neutral view.
• The stock rose 1.8% to GBX 1,375, and the company reported its latest quarterly results with GBX 107.10 EPS. An insider also sold shares recently, adding to the article’s focus on recent trading and ownership activity.

United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU - Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of "Hold" by the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is GBX 1,431.43.

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on UU shares. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a "hold" rating and issued a GBX 1,320 price objective on shares of United Utilities Group in a research note on Thursday, April 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of United Utilities Group from GBX 1,300 to GBX 1,450 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, April 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada upgraded shares of United Utilities Group to a "sector perform" rating and upped their price target for the company from GBX 1,450 to GBX 1,550 in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on shares of United Utilities Group from GBX 1,450 to GBX 1,550 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 5th. Finally, Citigroup cut their price target on shares of United Utilities Group from £152.50 to GBX 1,340 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, June 16th.

Insider Transactions at United Utilities Group

In other United Utilities Group news, insider Phil Aspin sold 24,566 shares of United Utilities Group stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,306, for a total transaction of £320,831.96. Over the last three months, insiders acquired 38 shares of company stock worth $51,768. 0.05% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

United Utilities Group Stock Up 1.8%

Shares of UU stock opened at GBX 1,375 on Friday. The stock's fifty day moving average price is GBX 1,330.45 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 1,313.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 512.65, a current ratio of 2.55 and a quick ratio of 1.13. The company has a market cap of £9.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 74.22, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.58.

United Utilities Group (LON:UU - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported GBX 107.10 EPS for the quarter. United Utilities Group had a return on equity of 27.72% and a net margin of 22.43%.The firm had revenue of GBX 261.63 billion during the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts expect that United Utilities Group will post 50.9730539 EPS for the current fiscal year.

United Utilities Group Company Profile

United Utilities Group PLC provides water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It is involved in the renewable energy generation, corporate trustee, financing, and property management activities; and provision of consulting, and project management services. The company operates 43,000 kilometers of water pipes; and 79,000 kilometers of wastewater pipes. United Utilities Group PLC was incorporated in 2008 and is based in Warrington, the United Kingdom.

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