Core Viewpoint - National Grid is conducting a webcast presentation to discuss its financial performance and future outlook, featuring key executives including the CEO and CFO [1][2]. Group 1 - The presentation is led by Angela Broad, the Director of Investor Relations, who welcomes participants and introduces the session [1]. - The Chief Executive, Zoe Yujnovich, and CFO, Andy Agg, are present to provide insights and answer questions during the Q&A session following the presentation [2]. - All materials related to the presentation will be made available on the company's website shortly after the webcast [2].

National Grid Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: National Grid - **Industry**: Energy and Utilities Key Points Investment Plans - National Grid plans to invest at least **GBP 70 billion** over the next **5 years**, marking a **70% increase** compared to the previous five-year period [2][5] - The investment will focus on modernizing and expanding networks in the **UK** and **US**, particularly in sectors like **data centers**, **AI**, **healthcare**, and **defense** [2][3] - The investment aims to enhance energy security, affordability, and cleaner energy delivery amidst rising energy costs [3] Financial Performance and Projections - The company anticipates **10% annual asset growth** through to **FY31** and an **underlying earnings per share (EPS) CAGR** of **8%-10%** [5][11] - The dividend per share is expected to grow in line with **CPIH inflation** [5] - The **strong balance sheet** will support the investment strategy while maintaining an investment-grade credit rating [6][10] Regulatory Framework - National Grid has reached an agreement on **RIIO-T3**, the regulatory contract for its UK electricity transmission business, which enhances visibility on required investment levels [4][6] - The new regulatory framework includes improved protections for project cost recovery and introduces **Output Delivery Incentives (ODIs)** for on-time delivery and innovation [9][10] - The company expects to achieve an overall **return on equity (ROE)** above **9%** under the new price control [10][30] Growth Drivers - Key growth drivers include **decarbonization**, **energy security**, and increased demand from **data centers** and **AI** [4] - The company is focused on enhancing its delivery capabilities and has established partnerships to ensure efficient project execution [38][39] Challenges and Considerations - There are ongoing discussions regarding the **US power generation fleet** and the potential impact of contracts expiring in **2028** [18] - The company is navigating planning challenges and is focused on ensuring timely project delivery [50][51] - Cost inflation is being monitored, but the increase in the investment plan is primarily driven by the extension of the timeline and additional project volume rather than significant supply chain cost increases [59] Future Outlook - National Grid aims to maintain a strong balance sheet and leverage its funding options, including unused hybrid debt capacity, to support future investments [10][26] - The company is open to exploring new projects in the US, particularly in transmission, as part of its growth strategy [72] Conclusion - National Grid is positioned to deliver significant growth and value creation through its ambitious investment plans, regulatory agreements, and focus on operational efficiency, while also addressing the challenges posed by market dynamics and regulatory environments [75]

Opt - 2 Cautionary Statement This presentation contains certain statements that are neither reported financial results nor other historical information. These statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include information with respect to National Grid's (the Company) financial condition, its results of operations and businesses, strategy, plans and ...

Group 1 - National Grid Inc. stock is currently trading at $94.80, reflecting a 0.93% increase, with a 10.92% rise over the past month and a 52.81% increase over the past year, indicating strong performance that may lead to optimism among long-term shareholders [1] - The price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is a critical metric for assessing the company's market performance against historical earnings and industry standards, with a lower P/E potentially indicating undervaluation or lower future performance expectations [2] - National Grid Inc. has a P/E ratio of 22.93, which is lower than the Multi-Utilities industry average of 28.69, suggesting that shareholders may perceive the stock as likely to underperform compared to industry peers or that it is undervalued [3] Group 2 - While the P/E ratio is a useful tool for evaluating market performance, it should be interpreted cautiously, as a low P/E can indicate either undervaluation or weak growth prospects, and it should be considered alongside other financial metrics and qualitative factors for a comprehensive analysis [4]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1] Company Overview: National Grid (NGG) - National Grid currently holds a Momentum Style Score of B, indicating a positive momentum outlook [2] - The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), suggesting strong potential for outperformance in the market [3] Performance Metrics - Over the past week, NGG shares increased by 3.27%, while the Zacks Alternative Energy - Other industry declined by 0.89% [5] - In the last quarter, NGG shares rose by 14.48%, and over the past year, they gained 44.37%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which increased by only 1.86% and 15.7% respectively [6] - The average 20-day trading volume for NGG is 765,012 shares, indicating a bullish sign with rising stock prices [7] Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, two earnings estimates for NGG have been revised upwards, increasing the consensus estimate from $5.22 to $5.26 [9] - For the next fiscal year, two estimates have also moved upwards, with no downward revisions during the same period [9] Conclusion - Given the positive performance metrics and earnings outlook, NGG is positioned as a 2 (Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B, making it a strong candidate for near-term investment [11]

Core Viewpoint - The interim management statement for Hargreave Hale AIM VCT PLC highlights contrasting economic conditions in the US and UK, with the US showing strong growth while the UK faces challenges including weak economic growth and rising unemployment [3][5]. Economic Overview - The US economy reported a robust growth rate of 4.3% in Q3 2025, despite political pressures [3]. - The UK is projected to have a growth rate of 1.5% for 2025 and 1.4% for 2026, with an unemployment rate rising to 5.1% [5]. - Consumer sentiment in the UK has improved post-Autumn Budget, although business confidence remains fragile [4]. Inflation and Monetary Policy - UK inflation, as measured by CPI, increased by 3.4% year-on-year as of December 2025, down from 3.8% in September 2025 [6]. - The Bank of England reduced interest rates to 3.75% during the quarter, with expectations for further cuts in 2026 [6]. Investment Performance - The unaudited NAV per share decreased by 1.25 pence to 35.21 pence, resulting in a total return of -3.43% for shareholders [9]. - The AIM index returned -0.97% in the three months to December 31, 2025, reflecting a challenging market environment [8]. Qualifying Investments - Hardide saw a significant increase of 157.1% in value, returning to profitability and reporting a 40% year-on-year revenue increase [10]. - Skillcast and Tortilla Mexican Grill also reported positive performance, with increases of 11.7% and 34.3% respectively [11]. - Negative contributors included Cohort, which declined by 36.7% despite solid revenue growth, and Diaceutics, which fell by 23.3% without specific news [12][13]. Portfolio Structure - The company maintained a strong investment position, ending the period with 84.11% invested according to HMRC VCT investment tests [16]. - The weighting to qualifying investments increased from 54.0% to 54.9% by market value [16]. Share Buybacks and Market Activity - The company repurchased 2.6 million shares at an average price of 34.14 pence, with the share price trading at a discount of 4.30% to the last published NAV [21]. - Post-period, the NAV per share increased to 36.33 pence, reflecting a 3.18% rise, while AIM increased by 6.54% [22].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2025, the company raised $112 billion of capital, reflecting strong demand from various investor types [7] - Fee-bearing capital increased by 12% year-over-year to over $600 billion, with fee-related earnings reaching a record $3 billion, up 22% year-over-year [8] - Distributable earnings were $2.7 billion, an increase of 14% from the prior year [8][26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In renewable power, significant investments included acquiring Neoen and National Grid's US renewables platform [15] - The private equity sector saw investments in Chemelex, a global industrial technology business [15] - Infrastructure investments included Hotwire Communications and Colonial Pipeline, enhancing the company's footprint in essential services [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company entered 2026 with a favorable market backdrop, characterized by stabilized interest rates and resilient economic growth [9] - There is renewed global demand for real assets that generate stable cash flows, particularly in the context of inflation protection [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to double its business by 2030 and achieve a 15% annualized earnings growth [10] - A significant focus is on expanding access to private assets for individual investors through retirement and long-duration savings vehicles [10] - The company is well-positioned to capture growth opportunities in infrastructure, private equity, and credit sectors [25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about 2026, expecting strong fundraising momentum and growth across various platforms [25] - The company anticipates a record year for fundraising, particularly in private equity and infrastructure [19][25] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity to support growth initiatives [33] Other Important Information - The board of directors approved a 15% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.50025 per share, payable on March 31, 2026 [34] - The company plans to enhance disclosure around partner managers to provide clearer insights into its evolving platform [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is secondaries a strategically important area for the company? - Management acknowledged that secondaries are a growing segment and will be opportunistic in exploring this area, focusing on highly additive opportunities [37][38] Question: Can you elaborate on the growth outlook for 2026? - Management expects growth rates in the mid- to high teens, driven by strong fundraising and deployment activity, with several initiatives expected to add $200 million to fee-related earnings [40][42] Question: How does the company view AI-related disruption? - Management sees AI as a net positive, with minimal exposure to software businesses, focusing instead on long-term contracted real assets [48][49] Question: What is the company's liquidity position? - The company has over $3 billion in liquidity, which supports growth initiatives and capital deployment [52][56] Question: How is the company positioned in the credit market? - Management noted robust demand for credit, particularly in real asset and asset-backed lending, with modest redemptions in private wealth strategies [76][77] Question: What is the outlook for the wealth channel? - The company expects continued growth in the wealth channel, driven by new product launches and strong early reception [80][81]

Core Insights - The offshore wind industry has committed to invest €9.5 billion ($11.3 billion) in its supply chain by 2030 to enhance capacity in the North Sea, aiming to transform it into a major clean energy reservoir [1] - Leaders from nine European nations signed a declaration to accelerate offshore wind technology, with plans to mobilize €1 trillion in capital, create 91,000 jobs, and reduce power production costs by 30% by 2040 [1] - The goal is to jointly develop 100 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2050, aligning with the bloc's climate-neutrality target [3] Investment and Infrastructure - Grid operator Tennet Germany and the UK's National Grid Plc will build a 3.8 gigawatt interconnector to link offshore wind parks to both countries' coasts, expected to be operational by the end of the 2030s [4] - The investment pact is seen as a means to secure value creation in Europe and ensure future-proof jobs in the offshore sector [5] Policy and Regulatory Framework - The UK has increased support for offshore wind technology, while Germany's recent zero-subsidy tender faced no bidders, indicating a need for adjustments in tender design and investment frameworks [5][6] - The North Sea summit is part of a broader initiative to install 300 gigawatts of capacity in response to the energy crisis caused by geopolitical tensions [7] Environmental Considerations - The North Sea has historically contributed over 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas extraction, and transitioning to renewable energy could help mitigate this impact [9] - There is a call for closer cooperation among countries to protect conservation areas while developing offshore wind infrastructure [9][10]

Core Insights - Europe is emerging as a significantly undervalued region in the next wave of global data center construction, driven by AI computing demand, localization of cloud computing, and improved policy environment [1][5] Group 1: Data Center Capacity and Growth - According to the European Data Center Association (EUDCA), Europe's data center capacity is expected to increase from approximately 15 gigawatts (GW) to around 40 GW by 2031, nearly tripling the current market size [1] - Goldman Sachs indicates that the construction pace of data centers in Europe is advancing significantly, with many projects already in the construction phase and higher visibility for projects in the 3-5 year timeframe [2] Group 2: Impact on Electricity Demand - Data centers are projected to drive an average annual growth of nearly 1.5% in overall electricity consumption in Europe from 2027 to 2031, not accounting for additional demand from electric vehicles, electrification, and GDP growth [3] - The increase in electricity demand is driven by three main factors: ongoing electrification of transportation and industry, clean energy transition, and data center loads centered around AI and cloud computing [3] Group 3: Geographical Distribution of Data Centers - Unlike the concentration of data centers in the U.S., Europe's expansion is characterized by geographical dispersion, with significant new capacity expected across major economies such as Germany and the UK, each around 4 GW, followed by several countries with 2 GW or more [4] - This distributed layout presents investment opportunities across multiple countries and raises requirements for cross-regional transmission capacity and grid coordination [4] Group 4: Policy Environment - The EU is expected to release the "Cloud and AI Development Act" by the end of March, which will provide clear and actionable policy signals for investments in local data centers and AI infrastructure [5] - Additionally, the "Grid Package Plan" aims to accelerate grid connection approvals and promote cross-border transmission network construction to alleviate power bottlenecks caused by concentrated data center operations [6] Group 5: Benefits to Power Sector - The rising electricity demand from data centers is likely to tighten the power market in Europe, enhancing the profitability of traditional gas power plants during the construction period of renewable energy projects [7] - Higher electricity price expectations may improve the pricing and return levels of ongoing renewable energy projects, benefiting companies like RWE and Solaria [7] - The data center construction boom is also expected to positively impact upstream equipment sectors, with demand potentially outpacing supply, leading to a buy rating for Siemens Energy [7]

Market Overview - Major European markets closed lower due to geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding French budget negotiations, with investors taking profits from recent gains [1][2] - The pan-European Stoxx 600 edged down 0.03%, with the U.K.'s FTSE 100 down 0.04%, Germany's DAX down 0.22%, and France's CAC 40 down 0.65% [3] Company Performance - In the UK market, BAE Systems, Natwest Group, Smiths Group, Schroders, National Grid, Standard Chartered, British Land Company, and The Sage Group gained between 1.4% to 2.3% [4] - Conversely, Pearson, Metlen Energy & Metals, Entain, Antofagasta, Endeavour Mining, Glencore, Anglo American Plc., and Pershing Square Holdings lost between 2% to 4% [4] - Daimler Truck Holding reported a decline in 2025 sales, contributing to its stock decline [5] - Siemens Energy saw a significant increase of over 5%, while Zalando, RWE, and Fresenius Medical Care gained between 1.5% to 1.7% [6] Notable Transactions - Kloeckner & Co shares soared over 28% following Worthington Steel's announcement of a $2.4 billion acquisition of the German steel processor [6] French Market Insights - In the French market, Kering and Essilor closed down by 4.7% and 4%, respectively, while LVMH, Stellantis, TP, and Renault lost between 2.7% to 3.1% [6][7]