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Highlights
- The utility sector can be one of the options that investors can consider for stability in their investments during times of uncertainty.
- Utility stocks are primarily from 3 major categories, including water, gas, and electric.
Investors seeking stability during times of uncertainty such as the pandemic that we are going through, can consider investing in defensive types of stocks.
One such type is utility stocks. Utility stocks are sub-divided into 3 major categories, such as water, gas, and electric, with certain companies operating in one segment, while some others are involved in various areas.
Let us take a closer look into the 5 highest performing FTSE listed stocks in the utilities sector:
- Renewi PLC (LON: RWI)
Renewi is a European waste management company and is a part of the FTSE All-Share index.
The group’s revenue, for the six months ended 30 September 2021, rose by 11 per cent to EUR 915.6 million, up from EUR 821.4 million in the previous year. The rise was due to covid recovery and from the continuing robust prices of recyclate.
The group’s underlying EBITDA during the period increased by 43 per cent to EUR 126.6 million, up from EUR 88.5 million in the year before.
The company has a market cap of £583.59 million and a one-year return of 91.79 per cent as of 29 December 2021.
- Drax Group PLC (LON: DRX)
Drax Group is in the power generation business involved in biomass and other areas. It is a part of the FTSE 250 index.
In its 1 December 2021 trading update, the group stated that it anticipates its net debt to adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) to be at a multiple of 2, by the end of 2022.
The company’s H1 2021 adjusted EBITDA had stood at £186 million, up from £179 million in H1 2020.
The company has a market cap of £2,381.38 million and a one-year return of 63.34 per cent as of 29 December.
- Biffa PLC (LON: BIFF)
Biffa is a UK based integrated waste management company. It is also a part of the FTSE 250 index.
The company’s H1 2022 net revenue rose by 37.9 per cent to £632.8 million, up from £458.8 million in H1 2021. Its H1 2022 adjusted EBITDA increased by 56.6 per cent to £91.3 million, up from £58.3 million.
The company has a market cap of £ 1,082.37 million and a one-year return of 54.50 per cent as of 29 December.
- Centrica Plc (LON: CNA)
FTSE 250 index listed firm Centrica is a UK-based multinational energy and services company.
The company’s adjusted operating profit from continuing operations (not inclusive of Direct Energy) stood at £262 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021. Comparatively, it was at £264 million in the year before.
During the period, the group’s adjusted basic EPS from continuing operations was at 1.7 pence, up from 1.6 pence in the previous year.
The company has a market cap of £4,056.99 million and a one-year return of 57.94 per cent as of 29 December.
- Pennon Group plc (LON: PNN)
FTSE 250 index listed firm Pennon Group plc is a water utility company in the UK.
The group’s H1 2021/22 underlying revenue rose by 21.8 per cent to £389.3 million, up from £319.7 million in H1 2020/21.
Its H1 2021/22 underlying EBITDA rose by 14.3 per cent to £199.4 million, up from £174.5 million in the year before.
The company has a market cap of £3,166.97 million and a one-year return of 25.63 per cent as of 29 December.
