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U.K. (FTSE) Trade Distributors Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 17, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies23
  • 7D-2.4%
  • 3M0.3%
  • 1Y-5.7%
  • YTD3.7%

Over the last 7 days, the Trade Distributors industry has dropped 2.4%, driven by Ashtead Group declining 5.2%. However, the industry is down 5.7% over the past year. Looking forward, 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
Sat, 17 Jan 2026UK£49.1bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b13.8x22.6x1.2x
Mon, 15 Dec 2025UK£47.9bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b14.3x22x1.2x
Wed, 12 Nov 2025UK£47.3bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b15x21.2x1.2x
Fri, 10 Oct 2025UK£49.0bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b15.8x22.1x1.2x
Sun, 07 Sep 2025UK£51.4bUK£39.6bUK£2.3b15.1x22.1x1.3x
Tue, 05 Aug 2025UK£48.2bUK£39.5bUK£2.4b14.4x20.2x1.2x
Thu, 03 Jul 2025UK£47.4bUK£39.3bUK£2.4b14.4x20.1x1.2x
Sat, 31 May 2025UK£45.7bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b12.9x19.4x1.2x
Mon, 28 Apr 2025UK£41.8bUK£39.5bUK£2.3b13.8x17.8x1.1x
Wed, 26 Mar 2025UK£46.1bUK£39.9bUK£2.4b14.2x19.1x1.2x
Fri, 21 Feb 2025UK£51.6bUK£40.0bUK£2.4b13x21.1x1.3x
Sun, 19 Jan 2025UK£53.6bUK£40.4bUK£2.5b13.3x21.1x1.3x
Tue, 17 Dec 2024UK£53.7bUK£40.0bUK£2.5b13.3x21.6x1.3x
Thu, 14 Nov 2024UK£58.7bUK£39.3bUK£2.5b13.5x23.6x1.5x
Sat, 12 Oct 2024UK£57.1bUK£39.1bUK£2.5b14.3x23.2x1.5x
Mon, 09 Sep 2024UK£55.5bUK£39.0bUK£2.4b17.2x22.7x1.4x
Wed, 07 Aug 2024UK£53.0bUK£39.7bUK£2.7b15.6x20x1.3x
Fri, 05 Jul 2024UK£54.7bUK£40.1bUK£3.0b14x18x1.4x
Sun, 02 Jun 2024UK£56.3bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b13.4x18.3x1.4x
Tue, 30 Apr 2024UK£57.2bUK£40.1bUK£3.2b13.2x17.9x1.4x
Thu, 28 Mar 2024UK£55.3bUK£40.0bUK£3.2b13.5x17.4x1.4x
Sat, 24 Feb 2024UK£55.1bUK£40.5bUK£3.5b11.1x15.9x1.4x
Mon, 22 Jan 2024UK£51.6bUK£40.4bUK£3.5b10.9x14.9x1.3x
Wed, 20 Dec 2023UK£55.0bUK£40.3bUK£3.4b11.1x16.3x1.4x
Fri, 17 Nov 2023UK£49.8bUK£39.8bUK£3.0b10.9x16.4x1.2x
Sun, 15 Oct 2023UK£47.8bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b10.4x15.4x1.2x
Tue, 12 Sep 2023UK£49.5bUK£39.7bUK£3.1b11.4x16x1.2x
Thu, 10 Aug 2023UK£52.4bUK£39.0bUK£3.1b11.5x17.1x1.3x
Sat, 08 Jul 2023UK£48.8bUK£38.9bUK£3.2b10.5x15.4x1.3x
Mon, 05 Jun 2023UK£51.4bUK£38.9bUK£3.2b10.1x16x1.3x
Wed, 03 May 2023UK£49.7bUK£38.5bUK£3.2b10.4x15.7x1.3x
Fri, 31 Mar 2023UK£50.5bUK£38.5bUK£3.2b12.8x16x1.3x
Sun, 26 Feb 2023UK£53.6bUK£37.0bUK£3.1b11.9x17.1x1.4x
Tue, 24 Jan 2023UK£50.8bUK£36.6bUK£3.0b12.5x16.7x1.4x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.7x


Total Market Cap: UK£50.8bTotal Earnings: UK£3.0bTotal Revenue: UK£36.6bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Trade Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 18.8x202420252026
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 22.6x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 18.8x.
  • 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 10% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues for these companies have grown 2.7% 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 Market1.33%
Industrials-0.79%
Trade Distributors-2.39%
Trade Companies and Distributors-2.39%
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
HWDN Howden Joinery GroupUK£8.600.9%
+UK£40.4m		9.2%PE18.2x
DPLM DiplomaUK£56.850.4%
+UK£33.6m		29.0%PE41.3x
AT. Ashtead Technology HoldingsUK£3.353.1%
+UK£8.1m		-38.6%PE9.2x
VP. VpUK£5.402.7%
+UK£5.5m		-10.0%PE26.7x
BRCK Brickability GroupUK£0.551.9%
+UK£3.2m		-8.9%PE16.6x

Latest News

HWDN
UK£8.60
Howden Joinery Group
7D
0.9%
1Y
9.2%

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)
BRCK
UK£0.55
Brickability Group
7D
1.9%
1Y
-8.9%
DPLM
UK£56.85
Diploma
7D
0.4%
1Y
29.0%
SHI
UK£0.099
SIG
7D
1.9%
1Y
-38.9%
RS1
UK£6.49
RS Group
7D
-0.8%
1Y
-4.7%

RS1: Stabilizing End Markets And Efficiency Gains Will Shape A Measured Outlook

Analysts have raised their price expectations for RS Group to £7.16 from £6.98, citing updated views on fair value, discount rate assumptions, revenue growth, profit margins, and a slightly lower future P/E. These revisions are supported by recent upgrades that emphasize stabilizing end markets and efficiency improvements.
MACF
UK£0.71
Macfarlane Group
7D
-0.8%
1Y
-33.0%

MACF: Stable Assumptions And Higher Required Return Will Support Undervalued Upside

Analysts have slightly adjusted their price target for Macfarlane Group, citing small refinements to assumptions around discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E, while keeping their fair value estimate broadly unchanged at £0.98. Valuation Changes Fair Value Estimate is unchanged at £0.98 per share, indicating no material revision to the central valuation outcome.
BNZL
UK£20.74
Bunzl
7D
-0.5%
1Y
-39.7%

BNZL: Cash Generation And Moderate Revenue Outlook Will Support Share Recovery

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Bunzl to reflect a fair value adjustment from £26.07 to £25.04, citing slightly more conservative assumptions on discount rate, revenue growth and profit margins, while keeping the forward P/E broadly unchanged. What's in the News Bunzl issued earnings guidance for 2025, with Group revenue expected to grow between 2% and 3% at constant exchange rates and to be broadly flat at actual exchange rates (company guidance).
TPK
UK£6.62
Travis Perkins
7D
-0.8%
1Y
-5.5%
AT.
UK£3.35
Ashtead Technology Holdings
7D
3.1%
1Y
-38.6%
AHT
UK£53.02
Ashtead Group
7D
-5.2%
1Y
-0.4%

AHT: Share Buybacks And Dividend Policy Will Support A Higher Price

Analysts have lifted their fair value estimate for Ashtead Group from £66.00 to about £74.60. This reflects updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E levels in their models.
LTHM
UK£9.65
James Latham
7D
-2.0%
1Y
-17.9%
GFTU
UK£9.43
Grafton Group
7D
-0.7%
1Y
4.4%

Improved Earnings Required Before Grafton Group plc (LON:GFTU) Shares Find Their Feet

Dec 26
Improved Earnings Required Before Grafton Group plc (LON:GFTU) Shares Find Their Feet
BMT
UK£10.50
Braime Group
7D
10.5%
1Y
0%

Braime Group PLC (LON:BMT) Might Not Be As Mispriced As It Looks

Dec 09
Braime Group PLC (LON:BMT) Might Not Be As Mispriced As It Looks
VP.
UK£5.40
Vp
7D
2.7%
1Y
-10.0%
LORD
UK£0.24
Lords Group Trading
7D
4.8%
1Y
-29.2%