British prime minister Theresa May could put a cap on the increase in electricity and gas prices in the UK, while also cutting water and gas charges, if she is re-elected. This sort of measure could affect Iberdrola’s UK business, which accounts for 25% of group EBITDA.
World stock markets are at record highs, particularly in the US, boosted by the promises of a heavy investment drive made by President Trump. But the fundamentals don’t support the markets’s strong performance, which is causing some concern.
FCC the Spanish environmental services, infrastructure and water management company, majority owned by Carlos Slim, reported net profit of €21.4 million in the first quarter, contrasting with a loss of €-16.7 million in the same period last year.Gross interest-bearing debt now stands at €5,063 million, 28% less than at 31 March 2016. The backlog now totals €30.650 million, equivalent to more than five years’ revenues.
Just like big miners, European steel stocks have experienced a now 3-month correction since they peaked in mid February. More accurately, according to Carax-Alphavalue’s analysts “as a combined group, they offer a 6% upside potential with somewhat more if the downside on ThyssenKrupp could be set aside”. They also add that in markets which are “verging on the expensive”, steel stocks are “good value again”.
Endesa registered net profit of 253 million euros in the first quarter of 2017, down 26% from a year earlier, due to the impact of the “high” prices of electricity in the wholesale market. Its dividend yield is still attractive at 5.7%, while the share price has also been supported by rumours of a corporate deal.
Deutsche Bank is trading at attractive valuation multiples (P/BV at around 0,5x), substantially lower than the sector average (P/BV of 0,8/0,9x), so interest on the part of big institutional investors has increased. The Chinese group HNA has just become the main shareholder after raising its stake to 9.9% from a previous 4.76%.
Banco Popular posted losses of 137 million euros in the first quarter, compared with profits of 93.79 million a year earlier. The losses were higher than forecast, and were the result of provisions totalling 496 million euros, up 69.9% year-on-year.
Repsol made net profit of 689 million euros in the first quarter of 2017, up 59% from a year earlier, fuelled by plans implemented to increase the company’s resilience and flexibility against the current backdrop of low prices. Its downstream business was the main driver of its strong first quarter performance.
On May 2, Fitch confirmed its BBB+ rating with a stable outlook for Abertis, citing as reasons the company’s recent acquisition of 100% of Sanef and the fact it has less debt than its competitors.
It takes a social democrat candidate to the French presidential election to push Banks 2017 P/Book to a 2-year high. As Carax-Alphavalue’s analysts report “whereas the banks hit a glass ceiling at 0.7x in the first half of 2016 (on 2016 figures), they were judged to become expensive at 0.85x and now trade at 0.9x”. The last leg is owed to the confidence surge around the euro, Europe and France since the democrat candidate emerged as a first- round winner.