Latest news with #MarkHartley
The Herald Scotland
24-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
'Milestone' as Scottish power station completes defueling
It is the first station in the UK's fleet of seven Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor (AGR) sites to be completely defueled. Formal confirmation came following a series of rigorous checks of the power station by EDF and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). Andy Dalling, Hunterston B Station Director, said: 'Defueling the station on time and on budget has been down to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved and we are proud to have been able to deliver such an exceptional performance. 'We are now fully focussed on getting the station ready to transfer from EDF to NRS for decommissioning in around a year's time. Deconstruction of the site will take place over the coming years, with most of the people working here today staying at the site to carry out that job.' READ MORE: World's largest liquid air energy facility to be created in Ayrshire Ministers 'misled' on environmental impact of new power plant, campaigners claim Scotland's oldest electricity line pulled down after almost 100 years It took two years and 10 months to remove all the fuel from the site, with the work delivered to budget using funds from the Nuclear Liabilities Fund (NLF), a ring-fenced £20.6 billion fund set up in 1996 specifically to pay for the decommissioning of the current nuclear fleet. Mark Hartley, Managing Director of EDF's Nuclear Operations business, said: 'The completion of defueling and confirmation the site is officially 'fuel-free' is a significant milestone in the station's journey. Removing all the spent nuclear fuel unlocks the next phase of work and will allow decommissioning by NRS to progress as planned. 'Hunterston B has proven itself an incredible asset for Scotland. Over its lifetime it has contributed more than £13.3 billion to the economy and supported thousands of jobs locally every year. It delivered during generation and now, with the successful completion of defueling, it has delivered on the commitment made by EDF to the UK Government.' In June 2021, EDF signed a contract with the UK Government to defuel all seven AGR stations across the UK before their transfer to NRS. Hinkley Point B in Somerset is expected to complete defueling by the end of 2025. Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Lord Hunt, said: 'Hunterston B produced the equivalent of enough clean power for all of Scotland's homes for over 30 years while supporting thousands of jobs – that's why we are backing new nuclear as part of our Plan for Change to get Britain building and become a clean energy superpower. 'Quick and effective decommissioning of old nuclear sites is vital for a successful nuclear industry, and today's milestone demonstrates the UK's leadership in this field.' Over the past three years 4,880 elements of spent fuel have been removed, processed and packaged into almost 350 large, specially engineered, flasks. The fuel was transported by rail by Nuclear Transport Services (NTS) from Hunterston B to Sellafield, in Cumbria, for long-term storage. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is the public body responsible for the decommissioning of the 17 nuclear sites across the UK and is the parent body of NRS, NTS and Sellafield. NDA Group CEO, David Peattie, said: 'This is a significant achievement, and I want to congratulate EDF, the staff at Hunterston B, and all those involved from the NDA group who worked tirelessly in partnership to make this happen. 'We look forward to welcoming Hunterston B into our group. We're experts in nuclear decommissioning and nuclear waste management and we're proud to utilise our specialist skills and capability to support the wider sector, for the benefit of the nation. 'It's why the Government has entrusted the NDA with the long-term decommissioning of AGRs, and we'll continue to work closely with EDF to ensure the smooth transition of the site to Nuclear Restoration Services next year.'
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
4 REITs Fools own for passive income
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) offer a combination of high dividend yields, potential for growth, and diversification benefits, making them an attractive option to consider for investors seeking passive income. Here are a handful owned across the contract writing team! What it does: Primary Health Properties specialises in purchasing and renting primary healthcare facilities within the United Kingdom and Ireland. By Mark Hartley. Primary Health Properties (LSE: PHP) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that benefits from stable revenue through long-term leases backed by the NHS and Irish government. This makes it a good candidate for passive income, as it's low-risk and provides consistent dividend payouts It has a long track record of dividend growth and has seen moderate price appreciation during strong economic periods. Dividends have increased consistently for over 20 years at a compound annual growth rate of 3.24%. However, the price has suffered during periods of high interest rates, ramping up borrowing costs and impacting profitability. Recent concerns about the wider property sector and potential government healthcare policy change risk hurting the share price. Despite a slight decline in performance over the past three years, revenue and earnings have typically been within 1% of expectations. This makes it attractive to income investors looking for stable and reliable performance. Mark Hartley owns shares in Primary Health Properties. What it does: Primary Health Properties owns and lets out medical facilities like GP surgeries in the UK and Ireland. By Royston Wild. Primary Health Properties offers investors the dream blend of long-term dividend growth and market-beating dividend yields. Cash rewards here have grown every year since the mid-1990s. And City analysts expect this trend to continue until at least 2026, representing 30th consecutive years of rises. As a result, the yields on Primary Health Properties for this year and next stand at 7.6% and 7.7% respectively. To put that into perspective, the current forward average for FTSE 250 stocks sits way below these levels, at 3.4%. This REIT's dividend durability reflects its focus on the ultra-defensive healthcare market, providing profits stability across the economic cycle. It's also because the lion's share of rental income is directly or indirectly guaranteed by a government body. Looking ahead, future dividends could be hurt by NHS policy changes that impact earnings. But with successive governments working to strengthen the role of primary care in Britain, the outlook here for the short-to-medium term at least looks pretty solid. Royston Wild owns shares in Primary Health Properties. What it does: Supermarket Income owns a £1.8bn portfolio of 74 stores, with the majority leased to Tesco and Sainsbury's. By Roland Head. Big UK supermarkets have regained their status as desirable retail properties since the pandemic. I added Supermarket Income REIT (LSE: SUPR) to my portfolio in July 2024, tempted by the 8%+ dividend yield and near-20% discount to book value. Admittedly, there's a risk that higher interest rates will put pressure on the dividend. But my sums suggest that this REIT will be able to refinance while maintaining its dividend. Recent changes should deliver a sharp drop in management costs. This REIT also benefits from long leases and very reliable tenants. Occupancy is 100% and so is rent payment. Property valuations also seem realistic – another area of possible concern. During the second half of 2024, Supermarket Income sold Tesco's Newmarket store back to the retailer at a price 7.4% above its latest book value. With a forecast yield of 8.3%, I'm quite happy to sit back and collect my quarterly dividends. Roland Head owns shares in Supermarket Income REIT. What it does: Warehouse REIT owns and leases a portfolio of well-positioned warehouses across the UK catering primarily to the e-commerce industry. By Zaven Boyrazian. In a world where e-commerce continues to slowly take market share from brick-and-mortar retail, demand for well-positioned warehouses is growing. This is a trend that Warehouse REIT (LSE:WHR) has been busy capitalising on since its IPO in 2017. However, with interest rates rising rapidly in 2022, real estate investment trusts have had to endure much higher financial pressures. In the case of Warehouse, that ultimately culminated in property disposals to keep debt in check. Despite this, dividends have kept flowing. And while elevated interest rates are still a cause for concern, the sell-off by investors seemed a bit overblown. It seems the private equity markets have also come to the same conclusion since acquisition offers began flying in February 2025. So far, they've all been rejected. Even after the recent rise in stock price, the shares continue to offer an attractive 6.5% dividend yield. And with demand for warehouses unlikely to slow down in the long run, the passive income potential for Warehouse REIT continues to look rock solid, in my opinion. Zaven Boyrazian owns shares in Warehouse REIT. The post 4 REITs Fools own for passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool The Motley Fool UK has recommended J Sainsbury Plc, Primary Health Properties Plc, Tesco Plc, and Warehouse REIT Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 UK stocks Fools have been buying!
Investing alongside you, fellow Foolish investors, here's a selection of stocks that some of our contributors have been buying across the past month! What it does: Airtel Africa provides mobile telecommunication services to 14 countries across the African continent. By Mark Hartley. I bought Airtel Africa (LSE: AAF) shares a few months ago after the price dipped near a three-year low. This came after underwhelming Q2 2025 results, with earnings per share (EPS) missing expectations by 80%. Despite the drop, I have felt confident in the group's long-term potential for some time so the low price seemed like a good opportunity. It has since recovered 51%, making it one of the best-performing stocks in my portfolio. However, it still faces significant risks from currency devaluation in Nigeria, one of its core markets. Rising fuel prices pose another risk as the company uses generators to power its remote cell towers. To mitigate the losses, the company is working to reduce its exposure to foreign exchange, having paid down $809m in forex debt exposure. Despite the rising price, the stock still appears undervalued with a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of only 7. Mark David Hartley owns shares in Airtel Africa. What it does: Ashtead Technology is a leading subsea equipment rental and solutions provider for the global offshore energy industry. By Ben McPoland. I recently bought more shares of Ashtead Technology (LSE: AT.). The specialist rental firm continues to advance, fueled by its acquisition-driven growth strategy. For 2024, it expects revenue to reach £168m, a 52% year-on-year increase, with underlying operating profit exceeding the consensus forecast of £46.6m. In the full-year trading update, CEO Allan Pirie commented: 'With one of the largest and most technologically advanced rental fleets in the industry and a continued focus on operational excellence, we remain confident in the Group's ability to generate substantial long-term value for shareholders.' I agree with that, though the company's growth is dependent on offshore oil, gas, and renewables markets. Economic downturns or declining energy prices could reduce exploration and capital expenditure, leading to lower demand for rented equipment. At present though, Ashtead Technology is in a strong position. Ongoing market demand and record customer backlogs give it confidence that growth will continue through 2025. A final attraction for me here is the valuation. At 528p (as I write), the stock is trading at just 10 times forecast earnings for 2026. Ben McPoland owns shares in Ashtead Technology Holdings. What it does: Bakkavor is a fresh prepared food group, supplying supermarkets with products such as bread, pizza, ready meals and salad. By Roland Head. FTSE 250 firm Bakkavor (LSE: BAKK) is not a household name, but its products are found on the shelves of all the UK's major supermarkets. I recently added this business to my portfolio. I see it as a steady grower and was encouraged by 2025 forecast earnings growth of 10%. That prices the stock on just 12 times forecast earnings, with a tempting dividend yield of 5.9%. I'm also reassured by the continued influence of the company's founders, Agust and Lydur Gudmundsson. They control almost 50% of the shares and sit on the board. Outside the UK, Bakkavor also operates in the US and China. China looks like the main risk to me, for investors. In addition to geopolitical risks, the China business is currently relatively small and loss making. However, I don't see this as a reason to avoid Bakkavor, which looks decent value to me at current levels. Roland Head owns shares in Bakkavor. What it does: Games Workshop manufactures tabletop gaming products including models, paints and manuals. By Royston Wild. Fantasy wargaming giant Games Workshop (LSE:GAW) enjoyed another barnstorming year in 2024, rising 35% in value since 1 January. Yet it fell sharply from record closing peaks of £142.70 per share in December, and dropped further following half-year financials last month. I used this as an opportunity to increase my holdings. There's been no spooky news coming from the Warhammer maker in recent weeks. Indeed, January's update showed sales up 14% in the six months to 1 December, helped by licensing revenues soaring 149% in the period. Games Workshop may endure some near-term turbulence if consumer spending remains weak. Yet this hasn't proved an obstacle to its breakneck growth story just yet. This reflects in large part its niche product lines and loyal customer base. I remain supremely confident in the FTSE 100 firm's long-term outlook. The tabletop gaming segment has scope for further significant growth. And Games Workshop's film and TV deal with Amazon could supercharge royalty revenues in the years ahead. Royston Wild owns shares in Games Workshop. What it does: Glencore is one of the world's largest natural resource companies with operations across 35 countries. By Andrew Mackie. As a die-hard value investor, I spend a lot of my spare time searching for stocks that I believe are undervalued relative to their long-term prospects. Trading at levels not seen since early 2022, Glencore (LSE: GLEN) is near the top of that list. In the years ahead, I envisage a mismatch in the supply-demand dynamics for many of its commodities, in particular copper. It's no great secret that demand for copper is rising across the globe. Electricity grids are creaking at the seams as demand for electricity from the likes of data centres and EVs continue to grow. And now with a US administration keen to rebuild its country's manufacturing prowess, I can't see anything other than demand increasing. Set this against a global investor community more interested in chasing tech stocks higher, and what has been the result? An industry starved of capital, risk averse and with little incentive for exploration. Sustained low commodities prices (mainly because of weak Chinese demand) continues to weigh down on its share price. This remains one of the most important short-term risks. But looking a decade out, I remain bullish. Andrew Mackie owns shares in Glencore. The post 5 UK stocks Fools have been buying! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Airtel Africa Plc, Amazon, Ashtead Technology Plc, and Games Workshop Group Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
