National Grid plc’s £70 Billion Grid Bet Just Hit a Storm-Cost Test
National Grid plc shares slipped early Friday, erasing some of Thursday’s post-earnings rally. Investors digested an annual profit miss alongside a fresh £70 billion grid upgrade plan. The stock was down 2.79% at 1,254.50 pence as of 08:51 BST, according to LSEG figures cited by Investors’ Chronicle. The British electricity and gas network operator reported underlying operating profit at £5.68 billion for the year to March 31, missing a company-compiled consensus forecast of £5.75 billion, according to Reuters. The result, which strips out specified one-off and timing items, triggered the move.