Investing IdeasBrowse All StocksMarkets
Have your own idea? Try our Stock Screener
Header cover image

U.K. (FTSE) Trade Distributors Industry Analysis

UpdatedFeb 10, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies22
  • 7D3.1%
  • 3M2.3%
  • 1Y-5.5%
  • YTD1.8%

The Trade Distributors industry is up 3.1% in the last week, with Ashtead Group up 4.1%. In the past year, the industry is down 5.5%. Earnings are forecast to grow by 13% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.K. Trade Distributors Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Tue, 10 Feb 2026UK£48.0bUK£39.4bUK£2.1b15x22.8x1.2x
Thu, 08 Jan 2026UK£49.5bUK£39.6bUK£2.2b14x22.8x1.2x
Sat, 06 Dec 2025UK£46.7bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b14.3x21x1.2x
Mon, 03 Nov 2025UK£48.7bUK£39.8bUK£2.2b15.4x21.9x1.2x
Wed, 01 Oct 2025UK£48.0bUK£39.6bUK£2.3b14.4x20.6x1.2x
Fri, 29 Aug 2025UK£51.3bUK£39.4bUK£2.3b15.1x22x1.3x
Sun, 27 Jul 2025UK£49.6bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b14.8x20.9x1.3x
Tue, 24 Jun 2025UK£45.2bUK£39.3bUK£2.4b14x19.1x1.1x
Thu, 22 May 2025UK£45.9bUK£39.5bUK£2.4b13.1x19.3x1.2x
Sat, 19 Apr 2025UK£40.8bUK£39.5bUK£2.4b13.3x17.4x1x
Mon, 17 Mar 2025UK£45.7bUK£39.8bUK£2.4b14x18.9x1.1x
Wed, 12 Feb 2025UK£52.6bUK£40.1bUK£2.5b13.7x21.4x1.3x
Fri, 10 Jan 2025UK£51.2bUK£40.3bUK£2.5b13.2x20.3x1.3x
Sun, 08 Dec 2024UK£60.0bUK£40.0bUK£2.5b13.4x24x1.5x
Tue, 05 Nov 2024UK£56.7bUK£39.1bUK£2.5b14x22.9x1.4x
Thu, 03 Oct 2024UK£58.1bUK£38.9bUK£2.4b14.4x23.7x1.5x
Sat, 31 Aug 2024UK£57.1bUK£39.0bUK£2.5b17.9x23.1x1.5x
Mon, 29 Jul 2024UK£57.6bUK£40.2bUK£3.2b14.1x18x1.4x
Wed, 26 Jun 2024UK£54.6bUK£40.1bUK£3.1b14x17.9x1.4x
Fri, 24 May 2024UK£57.3bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b14.3x18.5x1.4x
Sun, 21 Apr 2024UK£54.2bUK£40.2bUK£3.2b12.8x16.8x1.3x
Tue, 19 Mar 2024UK£52.8bUK£39.9bUK£3.2b13.4x16.6x1.3x
Thu, 15 Feb 2024UK£53.3bUK£40.5bUK£3.5b11.1x15.3x1.3x
Sat, 13 Jan 2024UK£52.3bUK£40.4bUK£3.5b11x15.1x1.3x
Mon, 11 Dec 2023UK£51.9bUK£40.4bUK£3.4b10.7x15.2x1.3x
Wed, 08 Nov 2023UK£47.3bUK£39.9bUK£3.1b10.4x15.3x1.2x
Fri, 06 Oct 2023UK£47.2bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b11.1x15.2x1.2x
Sun, 03 Sep 2023UK£51.5bUK£39.3bUK£3.0b11.7x16.9x1.3x
Tue, 01 Aug 2023UK£52.9bUK£38.9bUK£3.1b11x17.1x1.4x
Thu, 29 Jun 2023UK£50.7bUK£39.1bUK£3.2b10.7x15.8x1.3x
Sat, 27 May 2023UK£50.4bUK£38.9bUK£3.2b9.9x15.7x1.3x
Mon, 24 Apr 2023UK£49.8bUK£38.4bUK£3.1b11.9x15.8x1.3x
Wed, 22 Mar 2023UK£51.0bUK£38.6bUK£3.2b12.5x16.1x1.3x
Fri, 17 Feb 2023UK£55.3bUK£36.9bUK£3.1b12.8x18x1.5x
Price to Earnings Ratio

18x


Total Market Cap: UK£55.3bTotal Earnings: UK£3.1bTotal Revenue: UK£36.9bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Trade Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 18.9x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the British Trade Distributors industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 22.8x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 18.9x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 1.3x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Trade Distributors industry have declined 12% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues for these companies have grown 2.3% per year.
  • This means that although more sales are being generated, either the cost of doing business or the level of investment back into businesses has increased, which has decreased profits.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.K. Industrials industry?

GB Market0.53%
Industrials-0.34%
Trade Distributors3.09%
Trade Companies and Distributors3.09%
Industry PEThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.
Forecasted GrowthThere are no additional sub-industries under this industry.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

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

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
AHT Ashtead GroupUK£50.004.0%
+UK£788.2m		-1.6%PE19.9x
BNZL BunzlUK£21.665.7%
+UK£373.9m		-36.9%PE14.4x
DPLM DiplomaUK£55.203.7%
+UK£261.5m		19.7%PE40x
RS1 RS GroupUK£7.167.2%
+UK£224.9m		10.0%PE21.2x
TPK Travis PerkinsUK£6.857.6%
+UK£102.5m		-2.7%PS0.3x

Latest News

TPK
UK£6.85
Travis Perkins
7D
7.6%
1Y
-2.7%
BNZL
UK£21.66
Bunzl
7D
5.7%
1Y
-36.9%

Bunzl plc's (LON:BNZL) Intrinsic Value Is Potentially 58% Above Its Share Price

Feb 10
Bunzl plc's (LON:BNZL) Intrinsic Value Is Potentially 58% Above Its Share Price
GFTU
UK£9.77
Grafton Group
7D
3.5%
1Y
7.3%

Should You Investigate Grafton Group plc (LON:GFTU) At UK£9.63?

Feb 10
Should You Investigate Grafton Group plc (LON:GFTU) At UK£9.63?
SHI
UK£0.096
SIG
7D
-3.8%
1Y
-30.1%

SHI: Recent Downgrade Will Set Stage For Re Rated Earnings Multiple

Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for SIG to reflect a lower implied price target, citing updated assumptions around revenue growth, discount rates, and future P/E expectations following recent research, including the downgrade reported by Deutsche Bank. Analyst Commentary Bullish Takeaways Bullish analysts point out that even with a lower implied price target, the revised fair value still reflects confidence that SIG can support current earnings assumptions, which they see as already factoring in more cautious growth scenarios.
DPLM
UK£55.20
Diploma
7D
3.7%
1Y
19.7%

DPLM: Higher Price Objectives And 2026 Guidance Will Support Premium P/E View

Analysts have nudged their fair value estimate for Diploma slightly higher to £60.40, highlighting recent price target increases to £62.00 and above by several firms as they refine assumptions around growth, margins, discount rate and future P/E multiples. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research has centered on higher price targets for Diploma, with several bullish analysts revisiting their models and aligning closer to, or above, the current fair value estimate.
RS1
UK£7.16
RS Group
7D
7.2%
1Y
10.0%
AHT
UK£50.00
Ashtead Group
7D
4.0%
1Y
-1.6%

AHT: Buybacks And Dividend Will Support Shares As Rental Outlook Stays Muted

Analysts have kept their fair value estimate for Ashtead Group steady at £46.00, citing small adjustments to the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions rather than a shift in their overall view of the shares. What's in the News Ashtead Group announced a share repurchase program to buy back up to US$1,500 million of shares, with the plan running until the end of April 2027 (company announcement).
LORD
UK£0.24
Lords Group Trading
7D
-1.2%
1Y
-21.9%

Lords Group Trading's (LON:LORD) Returns On Capital Not Reflecting Well On The Business

Jan 28
Lords Group Trading's (LON:LORD) Returns On Capital Not Reflecting Well On The Business
AT.
UK£4.40
Ashtead Technology Holdings
7D
8.8%
1Y
-17.3%

Ashtead Technology Holdings Plc's (LON:AT.) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 28%

Jan 21
Ashtead Technology Holdings Plc's (LON:AT.) Price Is Right But Growth Is Lacking After Shares Rocket 28%
HWDN
UK£8.66
Howden Joinery Group
7D
1.9%
1Y
3.3%

Risks To Shareholder Returns Are Elevated At These Prices For Howden Joinery Group Plc (LON:HWDN)

Jan 17
Risks To Shareholder Returns Are Elevated At These Prices For Howden Joinery Group Plc (LON:HWDN)
VP.
UK£5.54
Vp
7D
-1.1%
1Y
-2.8%
AVAP
UK£1.40
Avation
7D
-0.4%
1Y
0%
ASY
UK£5.30
Andrews Sykes Group
7D
-0.9%
1Y
1.9%