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U.K. (FTSE) Consumer Staples Sector Analysis

UpdatedMar 07, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies52
  • 7D-8.1%
  • 3M-1.4%
  • 1Y5.0%
  • YTD0.7%

Over the last 7 days, the Consumer Staples industry has dropped 5.2%, driven by Unilever declining 9.7%. In the past year, the industry has gained 8.1%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 8.5% per annum.

Sector Valuation and Performance

Has the U.K. Consumer Staples Sector valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sat, 07 Mar 2026UK£387.8bUK£290.8bUK£24.1b18.2x16.1x1.3x
Mon, 02 Feb 2026UK£395.1bUK£298.2bUK£17.3b18.6x22.8x1.3x
Wed, 31 Dec 2025UK£389.7bUK£301.1bUK£17.4b18.5x22.4x1.3x
Fri, 28 Nov 2025UK£401.4bUK£301.4bUK£17.4b18.2x23x1.3x
Sun, 26 Oct 2025UK£397.8bUK£298.7bUK£18.4b18.6x21.6x1.3x
Tue, 23 Sep 2025UK£388.2bUK£297.1bUK£18.5b17.8x21x1.3x
Thu, 21 Aug 2025UK£415.1bUK£296.4bUK£18.4b19.4x22.5x1.4x
Sat, 19 Jul 2025UK£384.8bUK£297.5bUK£19.5b19.3x19.7x1.3x
Mon, 16 Jun 2025UK£384.0bUK£296.3bUK£19.6b19.9x19.6x1.3x
Wed, 14 May 2025UK£368.8bUK£295.1bUK£19.7b17.5x18.7x1.2x
Fri, 11 Apr 2025UK£361.5bUK£296.5bUK£20.0b16.5x18.1x1.2x
Sun, 09 Mar 2025UK£376.0bUK£294.7bUK£19.8b16.4x19x1.3x
Tue, 04 Feb 2025UK£383.6bUK£296.4bUK£3.9b16.7x97.3x1.3x
Thu, 02 Jan 2025UK£406.2bUK£309.0bUK£5.2b17.9x78x1.3x
Sat, 30 Nov 2024UK£410.4bUK£309.2bUK£5.2b16.9x78.8x1.3x
Mon, 28 Oct 2024UK£407.8bUK£307.8bUK£4.1b17.8x99.1x1.3x
Wed, 25 Sep 2024UK£413.1bUK£306.2bUK£3.9b17.3x107.1x1.3x
Fri, 23 Aug 2024UK£404.7bUK£308.0bUK£4.0b18.4x100.9x1.3x
Sun, 21 Jul 2024UK£390.7bUK£312.9bUK£4.2b16.6x92.9x1.2x
Tue, 18 Jun 2024UK£390.3bUK£356.0bUK£5.6b16.4x69.3x1.1x
Thu, 16 May 2024UK£403.6bUK£351.7bUK£5.6b17.2x71.5x1.1x
Sat, 13 Apr 2024UK£362.9bUK£349.8bUK£5.5b16.5x65.8x1x
Mon, 11 Mar 2024UK£377.1bUK£343.8bUK£4.6b16.8x82.3x1.1x
Wed, 07 Feb 2024UK£386.6bUK£349.1bUK£30.4b15.8x12.7x1.1x
Fri, 05 Jan 2024UK£389.3bUK£362.5bUK£31.1b16.7x12.5x1.1x
Sun, 03 Dec 2023UK£385.8bUK£362.6bUK£31.0b16.6x12.4x1.1x
Tue, 31 Oct 2023UK£384.2bUK£359.6bUK£29.7b16.9x12.9x1.1x
Thu, 28 Sep 2023UK£396.1bUK£354.8bUK£28.9b17.2x13.7x1.1x
Sat, 26 Aug 2023UK£401.4bUK£354.1bUK£28.7b15.7x14x1.1x
Mon, 24 Jul 2023UK£412.6bUK£352.5bUK£25.7b16.9x16x1.2x
Wed, 21 Jun 2023UK£398.3bUK£354.1bUK£25.7b15.7x15.5x1.1x
Fri, 19 May 2023UK£427.1bUK£355.7bUK£25.7b16.8x16.6x1.2x
Sun, 16 Apr 2023UK£429.5bUK£351.0bUK£25.8b16x16.6x1.2x
Tue, 14 Mar 2023UK£407.6bUK£346.9bUK£25.9b15.3x15.7x1.2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

15.7x


Total Market Cap: UK£407.6bTotal Earnings: UK£25.9bTotal Revenue: UK£346.9bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Consumer Staples Sector Price to Earnings3Y Average 40x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are pessimistic on the British Consumer Staples industry, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates will be lower than they have historically.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 17.8x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 40.0x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 1.2x is lower than the industry's current PS ratio of 1.4x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Consumer Staples industry have declined 5.1% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 5.7% per year.
  • This means overall sales from these companies are declining and profits are subsequently falling as well.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.K. Consumer Staples sector?

GB Market-5.72%
Consumer Staples-8.07%
Food and Staples Retail-3.84%
Food-4.30%
Tobacco-7.14%
Beverage-7.56%
Personal Products-9.67%
Household Products-14.24%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Food and Staples Retail industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 19.3x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 15.1%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 9.7% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Tobacco industry, although it looks like investor sentiment has improved given that it's trading above its 3-year average of 6.9x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Food and Staples Retail industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 15% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 9.7% per year.
  • In contrast, the Tobacco industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 3.6% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
MPE M.P. Evans GroupUK£14.752.1%
+UK£15.6m		44.6%PE9.7x
AEP AEP PlantationsUK£15.901.0%
+UK£5.5m		144.6%PE9.3x
CAM CamelliaUK£50.452.5%
+UK£3.2m		9.0%PS0.5x
MDH Mendell HeliumUK£0.03736.4%
+UK£1.5m		15.4%PB3.9x
FVA FevaraUK£1.281.6%
+UK£1.0m		-1.5%PE21.9x

Latest News

RKT
UK£55.80
Reckitt Benckiser Group
7D
-14.3%
1Y
-1.1%
ABF
UK£18.70
Associated British Foods
7D
-5.4%
1Y
-2.5%
MPE
UK£14.75
M.P. Evans Group
7D
2.1%
1Y
44.6%
ULVR
UK£49.35
Unilever
7D
-9.7%
1Y
-4.8%

ULVR: Margin Delivery By FY26 Will Drive Upside Case

Narrative Update on Unilever Unilever's analyst price target has edged higher, with modestly improved fair value assumptions to about £60.52 and slightly adjusted discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E inputs, as analysts factor in recent target revisions that reflect a more balanced risk and reward profile and ongoing debate over pricing and margin potential. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Unilever points to a mixed but generally more balanced view, with several firms revisiting their assumptions on valuation, pricing power and margin potential.
DGE
UK£15.26
Diageo
7D
-8.2%
1Y
-29.9%

DGE: Margin Discipline And Portfolio Moves Will Support Long Term Cash Generation

Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for Diageo from about £20.57 to £20.01, reflecting a slightly higher discount rate and lower assumed future P/E, even as they factor in updated views on revenue growth and margins. Analyst Commentary Recent commentary on valuation and execution themes across consumer names gives useful context for how analysts might be thinking about Diageo, even when the research is focused on other companies.
AEP
UK£15.90
AEP Plantations
7D
1.0%
1Y
144.6%
IMB
UK£31.62
Imperial Brands
7D
-4.9%
1Y
13.7%
CCH
UK£44.96
Coca-Cola HBC
7D
-6.5%
1Y
29.7%

CCH: Higher Revenue Assumptions And Dividend Proposal Will Shape Future Returns

The analyst price target for Coca-Cola HBC has been raised to £45.64 from £41.26, as analysts reference higher assumed revenue growth, slightly firmer profit margins and a higher future P/E multiple despite one recent downgrade. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Coca-Cola HBC reflects a mix of optimism about the company’s ability to support a higher valuation and some caution on execution risks and earnings quality.
TSCO
UK£4.67
Tesco
7D
-2.9%
1Y
22.7%

TSCO: Execution On Store Partnerships And Margins Will Shape Future Returns

Narrative Update Analysts have trimmed their Tesco price target to £4.80 from £5.00, reflecting slightly lower discount rate and future P/E assumptions while keeping their broader positive stance on the shares intact. Analyst Commentary Bullish and bearish analysts are reacting to the revised £4.80 price target with a focus on how Tesco can execute against its current valuation, rather than a wholesale change in view on the company.
BATS
UK£42.82
British American Tobacco
7D
-7.7%
1Y
36.2%

BATS: Future Returns Will Reflect ITC Stake Sale And Measured Revenue Outlook

Analysts now set their fair value estimate for British American Tobacco at £45.81, compared with £45.19 previously. This reflects updated assumptions around discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E.
MDH
UK£0.037
Mendell Helium
7D
36.4%
1Y
15.4%
CAM
UK£50.45
Camellia
7D
2.5%
1Y
9.0%
FVA
UK£1.28
Fevara
7D
1.6%
1Y
-1.5%
DIS
UK£0.0011
Distil
7D
4.8%
1Y
34.1%