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British Fuel proprietor Centrica (LSE: CNA) noticed its share price rise 10% when markets opened on Thursday (20 February), after the corporate unveiled a powerful set of outcomes.
Centrica has lagged the broader FTSE 100 over the past yr, after a powerful restoration from 2021 to 2023. However right this moment’s numbers recommend to me the enterprise stays on monitor to make sustainable progress. I believe this might open the door to additional share price features.
Income down, dividend up!
Centrica’s working revenue fell 43% to £1,552m in 2024. Regardless of this, the corporate unveiled a ten% dividend improve, lifting the payout to 4.5p per share. That’s a yield of about 3.1%, on the time of writing. Shareholders also needs to profit from an additional £500m share buyback. My sums recommend this could present good worth for cash at present ranges.
I wouldn’t usually reward an organization for rising its payouts when earnings have fallen sharply. However that is an uncommon state of affairs. Centrica’s earnings are returning to regular after windfall features in 2023, when the corporate’s place as an enormous gasoline producer meant it profited from greater power costs.
The power group’s accounts present clear help for the dividend and buyback. This enterprise generated practically £1bn of surplus money in 2024 and ended the yr with net cash of £2.8bn.
Investing for long-term development
I believe Centrica CEO Chris O’Shea is aware of he’s struck fortunate. Not so way back, this group was scuffling with flagging earnings and a heavy debt burden.
O’Shea has deliberate a £4bn funding programme that’s meant to help long-term earnings, enhance buyer satisfaction and place the corporate for a gradual shift in direction of internet zero. For instance, the corporate put in practically half one million sensible meters final yr.
Centrica additionally agreed to construct two 100MW “flexible hydrogen-ready” gaspower crops in Eire and prolonged the lifetime of its 4 UK nuclear energy stations.
Are the shares nonetheless low-cost?
There are nonetheless some dangers right here. For me, the most important concern is that Centrica generated practically half its underlying earnings final yr from gasoline manufacturing and power buying and selling on worldwide markets. These companies might be much more worthwhile than being a regulated UK utility. However earnings will also be rather more unstable, relying on commodity market circumstances.
On stability, I believe it is a threat value taking. In my opinion, these companies could possibly contribute considerably extra enticing returns for shareholders than British Fuel may do alone.
Centrica’s big money pile additionally signifies that it’s capable of put money into long-term alternatives from a place of power. If it’s managed nicely, I believe this needs to be an enormous alternative.
Even after this morning’s features, the shares are solely buying and selling on 10 instances 2025 forecast earnings. Shareholders also needs to be capable of look ahead to a 3.5% dividend yield for the yr.
This appears to be like undemanding to me. My valuation estimates recommend Centrica shares might be value extra, even when earnings degree out. I believe this power stalwart’s value contemplating.
