United Utilities Group (LON:UU) Trading 0.6% Higher – Should You Buy?

United Utilities Group PLC (LON:UU) rose 0.6% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as GBX 1,126.50 ($14.37) and last traded at GBX 1,120.50 ($14.30). Approximately 983,160 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 200% from the average daily volume of 328,047 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1,114 ($14.21).

United Utilities Group Price Performance

The company’s 50 day moving average price is GBX 1,065.10 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 1,038.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 486.43, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.60. The company has a market cap of £7.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5,897.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 0.41.

United Utilities Group Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, November 28th will be given a GBX 17.28 ($0.22) dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, November 28th. This represents a yield of 1.65%. United Utilities Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26,315.79%.

Insider Transactions at United Utilities Group

In other news, insider Louise Beardmore sold 8,471 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,058 ($13.50), for a total value of £89,623.18 ($114,359.04). Over the last 90 days, insiders bought 52 shares of company stock valued at $54,799. Corporate insiders own 0.05% of the company’s stock.

About United Utilities Group

United Utilities Group PLC provides water and wastewater services in the United Kingdom. It is involved in the renewable energy generation, corporate trustee, financing, and property management activities; and provision of consulting, and project management services. The company operates 43,000 kilometers of water pipes; and 79,000 kilometers of wastewater pipes.