ASHTF Stock Recent News

The FTSE 100 equipment rental company said moving its primary listing to the U.S. increase it exposure to investors and allow for its inclusion in “premier U.S. equity indices.”

Ashtead Group PLC (LSE:AHT) has proposed switching its primary listing from the UK to the US, marking yet another blow to London. “The board has concluded that the US market is the natural long-term listing venue for the group and that moving to a US primary listing is in the best interests of the business and its stakeholders,” the industrial equipment rental firm said on Tuesday.

Plant hire giant has Ashtead Group PLC (LSE:AHT) copped a downgrade from analysts at Deutsche Bank the day before its latest quarterly update Hold from buy is the new recommendation though Deutsche Bank says that Ashtead is the second-largest US equipment rental operator in the US and longer-term prospects are fine. Specifically, there is a structural shift from buy to rental, which will the larger sector operators from scale and high service levels to customers.

Ashtead Group PLC (LSE:AHT) shares have risen strongly since its last update in September with the prospect of a bumper construction spending spree by new US President Donald Trump adding to the momentum. Next week's second-quarter update will not have any benefit from that, but the US-focused plant hire group maintaining its full-year guidance in September has eased many of the concerns that surfaced mid-year.

The list ranks stocks based on their market cap and dividend yield alone. What I am looking for is quality dividend stocks with long track records of progressive dividend growth, and while dividend yield is still important, it's a secondary consideration.