How to buy National Grid shares

Here's how to invest in National Grid shares, see if now is a good time to buy or sell, and get the live National Grid (NG) share price.

National Grid PLC (NG) is a publicly traded utilities-regulated electric business based in the UK. It opened the day at 1096p after a previous close of 1100p. During the day the price has varied from a low of 1093.5p to a high of 1110.5p. The latest price was 1106p (25 minute delay). National Grid is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). All prices are listed in pence sterling.

How to buy shares in National Grid

  1. Choose a platform. If you're a beginner, our share-dealing table below can help you choose.
  2. Open your account. You'll need your ID, bank details and national insurance number.
  3. Confirm your payment details. You'll need to fund your account with a bank transfer, debit card or credit card.
  4. Search the platform for stock code: NG in this case.
  5. Research National Grid shares. The platform should provide the latest information available.
  6. Buy your National Grid shares. It's that simple.
The whole process can take as little as 15 minutes. You'll need a smartphone or computer, an internet connection, your passport or driving licence and a means of payment.
Our top picks for where to buy National Grid shares:

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Fees for buying 50x National Grid shares with popular platforms

Share prices fluctuate in real time, so the costs presented here should be considered as a guide only. They do not incorporate stamp duty. Always refer to the platform itself for availability and pricing – which may differ from our information.

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All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.

Alternative ways to invest in National Grid

Is it a good time to buy National Grid stock?

Only you can make the decision on the time to leap. The gauge below shows real-time ratings that are based on 26 popular indicators such as moving averages, for specific time periods. It's not a recommendation but is simply technical analysis that can form part of your research.

Finder might not agree with the analysis and we take no responsibility. We also give no representations or warranty on the accuracy or completeness of the information provided on this page.

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Invest in National Grid shares with IG

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All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.

Is National Grid under- or over-valued?

Valuing a stock is incredibly difficult, and any metric has to be viewed as part of a bigger picture of overall performance. However, analysts commonly use some key metrics to help gauge value. Check out the National Grid P/E ratio, PEG ratio and EBITDA

National Grid's current share price divided by its per-share earnings (EPS) over a 12-month period gives a "trailing price/earnings ratio" of roughly 15x. In other words, National Grid shares trade at around 15x recent earnings.

That's relatively low compared to, say, the trailing 12-month P/E ratio for the FTSE 250 at the end of September 2019 (19.71). The low P/E ratio could mean that investors are pessimistic about the outlook for the shares or simply that they're under-valued.

However, National Grid's P/E ratio is best considered in relation to those of others within the utilities-regulated electric industry or those of similar companies.

National Grid's "price/earnings-to-growth ratio" can be calculated by dividing its P/E ratio by its growth – to give 5.5294. Higher PEG ratios such as this can be interpreted as meaning the shares offer worse value given the current rate of growth.

The PEG ratio provides a broader view than just the P/E ratio, as it gives more insight into National Grid's future profitability. By accounting for growth, it could also help you if you're comparing the share prices of multiple high-growth companies.

However, it's sensible to consider National Grid's PEG ratio in relation to those of similar companies.

National Grid's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) is a whopping £6.4 billion.

The EBITDA is a measure of a National Grid's overall financial performance and is widely used to measure a its profitability.

To put that into context you can compare it against similar companies.

What's National Grid's ESG track record?

Environmental, social and governance (known as ESG) criteria are a set of three factors used to measure the sustainability and social impact of companies like National Grid.

Overall National Grid ESG score

National Grid's total ESG risk: 25.67

Socially conscious investors use ESG scores to screen how an investment aligns with their worldview, and National Grid's overall score of 25.67 (as at 01/01/2019) is pretty good – landing it in it in the 37th percentile of companies rated in the same sector.

ESG scores are increasingly used to estimate the level of risk a company like National Grid is exposed to within the areas of "environmental" (carbon footprint, resource use etc.), "social" (health and safety, human rights etc.), and "governance" (anti-corruption, tax transparency etc.).

To gain some more context, you can compare National Grid's total ESG risk score against those of similar companies.

National Grid's environmental score: 8.47/100

National Grid's environmental score of 8.47 puts it squarely in the 6th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. This could suggest that National Grid is a leader in its sector terms of its environmental impact, and exposed to a lower level of risk.

National Grid's social score: 15.25/100

National Grid's social score of 15.25 puts it squarely in the 6th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. This could suggest that National Grid is a leader in its sector when it comes to taking good care of its workforce and the communities it impacts.

National Grid's governance score: 8.95/100

National Grid's governance score puts it squarely in the 6th percentile of companies rated in the same sector. That could suggest that National Grid is a leader in its sector when it comes to responsible management and strategy, and exposed to a lower level of risk.

National Grid's controversy score: 2/5

ESG scores also evaluate any incidences of controversy that a company has been involved in. A high-profile company, National Grid scored a 2 out of 5 for controversy – the second-highest score possible, reflecting that National Grid has, for the most part, managed to keep its nose clean.

Wondering how that compares? Below are the controversy scores of similar companies.

Frequently asked questions

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.

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