In the current session, the stock is trading at $94.80, after a 0.93% increase. Over the past month, National Grid Inc. (NYSE:NGG) stock increased by 10.92%, and in the past year, by 52.81%. With performance like this, long-term shareholders are optimistic but others are more likely to look into the price-to-earnings ratio to see if the stock might be overvalued.National Grid P/E Ratio Analysis in Relation to Industry PeersThe P/E ratio is used by long-term shareholders to assess the company's market perfor ...

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]

Summary of Bernstein Energy & Power: 2026 Outlook Industry Overview - The report focuses on the European Utilities sector, highlighting its performance and outlook for 2026 - Utilities are trading at a ~9% P/E discount to the broader market, with a projected ~7% EPS CAGR over three years compared to ~11% for the market [3][4] Key Highlights - **Performance in 2025**: Utilities were the second-best performing sector, outperforming the broader market by ~13 percentage points, driven by demand for earnings visibility amid macroeconomic uncertainties and growth prospects in grids and renewables [12] - **Investment Opportunities**: Electric networks (e.g., SSE, National Grid) are seen as offering the best risk-adjusted exposure, while renewables (e.g., EDP, Engie) also present significant opportunities [3] - **Top Picks for 2026**: - **SSE**: Target price of £2,600, with a 19.3% upside, focusing on regulated networks [6][9] - **National Grid**: Target price of £1,300, with a 13.9% upside, benefiting from US operations and RIIO-T3 price control [9] - **EDP**: Target price of €4.60, with a 17.5% upside, strong growth in renewables [9] - **Engie**: Target price of €25.10, with a 12% upside, expected earnings rebound from renewables [9] - **Severn Trent**: Target price of £3,200, with a 14.7% upside, entering a growth cycle in UK water utilities [9] - **RWE**: Target price of €50.00, with a 10.5% upside, improving capital allocation and investment discipline [9] - **Redeia**: Target price of €18.15, with a 19.6% upside, solid earnings growth expected [10] - **EDPR**: Target price of €13.50, with a 12.1% upside, high earnings growth anticipated [10] - **Terna**: Target price of €10.00, with a 10.4% upside, good earnings visibility [10] Least Preferred Stocks - Companies with significant merchant power exposure are viewed unfavorably, including Verbund, Fortum, Solaria, Centrica, and Naturgy [8][11] Market Dynamics - **Commodity Prices**: The report highlights the uncertainty surrounding commodity prices, particularly gas, which could impact power prices in 2026 [17][22] - **Gas Outlook**: European TTF gas prices are projected to decline from €29/MWh in 2026 to €27/MWh in 2029, with potential downward pressure from increased LNG supply [18][25] - **Power Price Sensitivity**: The report outlines the sensitivity of various companies to changes in power prices, indicating that top picks have limited exposure to falling prices [44][47] Regulatory and Policy Environment - The EU ETS carbon price is currently above €87 per tonne, with expectations of tightening supply in 2026 due to reduced emission caps and auction supply [39][43] - The report notes the potential for nuclear life extensions in Spain and Belgium, which could provide additional upside for certain companies [56][59] Conclusion - The European Utilities sector is positioned for defensive growth in 2026, with attractive risk-reward profiles and strong catalysts driven by the energy transition and rising demand from AI and data centers [15] - The sector remains undervalued relative to current electricity prices, with earnings expected to be supported by a stable inflation regime [15]

Market Trends & Economic Data - Investors are preparing for more information on the US economy, with stocks, bonds, and the dollar wavering [3] - The week will bring economic data releases, including inflation and jobs reports, influencing future Fed policy [4] - The US Treasury market is debating the extent of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts [12] - Delayed announcements of monthly employment and inflation figures due to the US government shutdown are creating a void [13] - There's a debate on whether the economy is transitioning from deleveraging to re-leveraging [40] M&A and Corporate Strategy - The pursuit of Warner Brothers Discovery by Netflix is ongoing, with concerns about job losses and theatrical releases [5] - Netflix co-CEOs are trying to reassure employees about the company's bid for Warner Brothers Discovery, reiterating no business overlap and studio closures [59] - Global M&A activity has been strong, with volumes at $45 trillion, setting up for 2026 to potentially exceed the record year in 2021 [78] - A potential Netflix acquisition of Warner Brothers could be a $827 billion deal [60] - iRobot filed for bankruptcy, with its common stock to be wiped out under the proposed Chapter 11 plan, listing between $100 million and $500 million in assets and liabilities [118][120] Energy & Utilities - National Grid is spending billions of dollars to prepare New York's electric grid for a generational shift, including data centers [93] - National Grid serves over 4 million customers in New York, delivering natural gas and electricity [97] - Cumulative power needs from companies wanting to connect to the New York grid over the next five years are estimated at about 10 gigawatts, tripling in size in one year [99][100] - West Texas Intermediate crude oil (WTI) is down 13%, at $5674 a barrel [92] Cryptocurrency - MicroStrategy acquired almost $1 billion in Bitcoin for a second straight week, despite the cryptocurrency falling [124] - Bitcoin is down 23%, at $86,432 [10][92] - Bitcoin is down about 30% from an all-time high of just over $126,000 in early October [126] Financial Markets Performance - The Dow, S&P, and Nasdaq are all in the red [8][55][56][91][115] - The Bloomberg Mag Seven index is holding onto a gain of 4/10 of 1% [8] - The S&P 500 index is down 1/10 of 1%, lower by six at 620 [9] - The NASDAQ composite index is down 3/10 of 1%, while the Dow Industrials are down 2/10 of 1% [9] - The ten-year Treasury yield is currently at 417%, with the two-year at 350% [9] - Gold is up 4/10 of 1%, at $4314 the ounce [10] - The Russell 2000 index is declining, down 6/10 of 1% [55] - Gold is up $13 the ounce, at $4312, up 3/10 of 1% [56]

Core Insights - National Grid is enhancing resilience against wildfire risks through a partnership with Rhizome, utilizing advanced AI technology to identify and prevent such risks across its electric transmission and distribution networks in Massachusetts, New York, and the UK [1][3]. Group 1: Partnership and Technology - The collaboration with Rhizome involves the deployment of the gridFIRM platform, which quantifies long-term wildfire risks related to utility assets, enabling cost-effective mitigation strategies [2][8]. - The partnership aligns with National Grid's strategic focus on risk management, system resilience, and maintaining bill affordability for customers [3][4]. Group 2: Wildfire Risk Context - Wildfire risk is increasingly affecting the Northeast, with New York and Massachusetts experiencing 2,626 wildfires in 2024, more than double the previous year's total [3]. - The growing geographic diversity of wildfire risks necessitates robust resilience planning and preparedness for National Grid and utility stakeholders [3]. Group 3: Investment in Innovation - National Grid is committed to investing in innovative technologies, having announced a $100 million investment in AI technologies and startups, building on a previous investment of $150 million [5]. - The company aims to transform its networks to provide more reliable and resilient energy solutions, aligning with state climate goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions [6].