London, Feb 9, 2026, 08:35 GMT — Regular session
- SSE shares tacked on 0.32% to 2,518 pence in early trading, hovering close to a 52-week high.
- Regulated network returns and the rollout of major grid projects are still front and center for investors.
- SSE’s April update is up next, with full-year results due in May.
SSE Plc edged up 0.32% to 2,518 pence by 08:20 GMT on Monday, with the FTSE 100 showing a 34-point gain at 10,403.77. Shares hovered just below their 52-week peak of 2,537 pence. 1
This shift is significant: SSE isn’t getting the usual slow-lane utility treatment anymore. UK network owners have generally drawn investor interest as infrastructure bets—reliable income streams, but with returns tightly tied to regulatory calls and project delivery.
The stock faces a different strain as the week kicks off. Even subtle signals—softer allowed returns, a snag in construction, or generation shifts from weather—can jolt the price, quiet tape or not.
SSE, in its Feb. 4 trading update, set 2025/26 adjusted EPS guidance at 144 to 152 pence—a figure that leaves out certain one-offs—and pointed to a surge in regulated networks investment, hitting roughly £1.8 billion for the nine months through December. Chief Financial Officer Barry O’Regan said, “our focus has been on accelerating investment and delivering the plan that will create long-term earnings and value for investors.” SSE also said it’s reviewing Ofgem’s proposed RIIO‑T3 transmission terms, with the March 3 acceptance cutoff looming. 2
Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, flagged the lag between investment and payout in regulated networks: “the additional return isn’t received until some time after the investment has been made,” he said. That gap can pressure cash flows, despite spending that adds value in the long run. 3
Traders are watching for signals from UK regulation and government moves, while also tracking project execution. SSE continues its aggressive buildout on the north of Scotland’s transmission network and offshore wind—projects that now sit squarely in the daily price conversation.
Still, there’s a clear risk here. SSE’s outlook depends heavily on the weather and how reliably its plants run. If regulators tweak allowed returns or project schedules fall behind, the shares—already near their peak—leave little room for missteps.
SSE has a Notification of Closed Period on deck for April 2, according to its calendar, with preliminary full-year results set for release on May 28. 4
