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

U.K. (FTSE) Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Analysis

UpdatedMay 26, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D3.9%
  • 3M5.2%
  • 1Y9.6%
  • YTDn/a

In the last week, the Trade Companies and Distributors industry is up 3.9%, with RS Group up 14%. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 9.6%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 13% per annum.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 27 May 2026UK£28.9bUK£31.9bUK£939.9m15.5x30.7x0.9x
Fri, 24 Apr 2026UK£29.2bUK£31.7bUK£932.4m16x31.4x0.9x
Sun, 22 Mar 2026UK£26.2bUK£31.7bUK£908.8m15.3x28.9x0.8x
Tue, 17 Feb 2026UK£48.4bUK£39.5bUK£2.1b14.6x23x1.2x
Thu, 15 Jan 2026UK£48.7bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b13.8x22.4x1.2x
Sat, 13 Dec 2025UK£47.9bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b14.3x22x1.2x
Mon, 10 Nov 2025UK£46.0bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b14.7x20.6x1.2x
Wed, 08 Oct 2025UK£48.8bUK£39.6bUK£2.2b15.9x22.2x1.2x
Fri, 05 Sep 2025UK£50.4bUK£39.5bUK£2.3b15.6x21.7x1.3x
Sun, 03 Aug 2025UK£48.3bUK£39.5bUK£2.4b14.3x20.2x1.2x
Tue, 01 Jul 2025UK£47.1bUK£39.2bUK£2.3b14.2x20.1x1.2x
Thu, 29 May 2025UK£45.7bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b13x19.4x1.2x
Sat, 26 Apr 2025UK£41.8bUK£39.5bUK£2.3b13.8x17.8x1.1x
Mon, 24 Mar 2025UK£45.8bUK£39.9bUK£2.4b14x19x1.1x
Wed, 19 Feb 2025UK£52.9bUK£40.0bUK£2.4b13.6x21.7x1.3x
Fri, 17 Jan 2025UK£52.5bUK£40.4bUK£2.5b13.2x20.7x1.3x
Sun, 15 Dec 2024UK£54.0bUK£40.1bUK£2.5b13.3x21.6x1.3x
Tue, 12 Nov 2024UK£59.0bUK£39.2bUK£2.5b13.7x23.9x1.5x
Thu, 10 Oct 2024UK£57.8bUK£39.1bUK£2.5b14.3x23.4x1.5x
Sat, 07 Sep 2024UK£55.5bUK£39.0bUK£2.4b17.2x22.7x1.4x
Mon, 05 Aug 2024UK£53.6bUK£39.6bUK£2.6b16x20.3x1.4x
Wed, 03 Jul 2024UK£53.7bUK£40.1bUK£3.1b14x17.6x1.3x
Fri, 31 May 2024UK£56.7bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b13.4x18.3x1.4x
Sun, 28 Apr 2024UK£57.7bUK£40.1bUK£3.2b12.8x18x1.4x
Tue, 26 Mar 2024UK£54.7bUK£40.0bUK£3.2b13.5x17.2x1.4x
Thu, 22 Feb 2024UK£54.5bUK£40.5bUK£3.5b11.1x15.7x1.3x
Sat, 20 Jan 2024UK£51.5bUK£40.4bUK£3.5b10.9x14.9x1.3x
Mon, 18 Dec 2023UK£54.9bUK£40.3bUK£3.4b11.1x16.2x1.4x
Wed, 15 Nov 2023UK£49.3bUK£39.8bUK£3.0b10.8x16.3x1.2x
Fri, 13 Oct 2023UK£48.6bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b10.5x15.6x1.2x
Sun, 10 Sep 2023UK£49.7bUK£39.8bUK£3.1b11.4x16x1.2x
Tue, 08 Aug 2023UK£52.5bUK£38.9bUK£3.1b11.7x17.1x1.4x
Thu, 06 Jul 2023UK£50.0bUK£39.0bUK£3.2b10.5x15.7x1.3x
Sat, 03 Jun 2023UK£51.4bUK£38.8bUK£3.2b10.2x16x1.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16x


Total Market Cap: UK£51.4bTotal Earnings: UK£3.2bTotal Revenue: UK£38.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 20x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the British Trading Companies and Distributors industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 30.7x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 20.0x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 1.3x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 0.90x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Trading Companies and Distributors industry have declined 34% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 6.3% per year.
  • This means overall sales from these companies are declining and profits are subsequently falling as well.

Industry Comparison

How does U.K. Trade Companies and Distributors compare with similar industries?

GB Market1.42%
Industrials3.62%
Trade Distributors3.90%
Trade Companies and Distributors3.90%
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
RS1 RS GroupUK£6.8213.6%
+UK£381.8m		20.3%PE19.7x
DPLM DiplomaUK£70.102.6%
+UK£234.7m		48.2%PE49.6x
HWDN Howden Joinery GroupUK£7.674.0%
+UK£159.3m		-10.4%PE15.5x
TPK Travis PerkinsUK£5.405.5%
+UK£59.3m		-15.9%PS0.3x
GFTU Grafton GroupUK£8.251.7%
+UK£25.7m		-18.6%PE11.4x

Latest News

LORD
UK£0.17
Lords Group Trading
7D
-1.4%
1Y
-53.4%
DPLM
UK£70.10
Diploma
7D
2.6%
1Y
48.2%
New Narrative • May 25

Expanding Defence And Life Sciences Exposure Will Support Stronger Long Term Earnings Potential

Catalysts About Diploma Diploma is a specialist distribution group supplying technical products and value add solutions across Controls, Seals and Life Sciences. What are the underlying business or industry changes driving this perspective?
TPK
UK£5.40
Travis Perkins
7D
5.5%
1Y
-15.9%
RS1
UK£6.82
RS Group
7D
13.6%
1Y
20.3%
SHI
UK£0.085
SIG
7D
2.4%
1Y
-41.9%
Narrative Update • May 20

SHI: Revised Margin And P/E Assumptions Will Support Upside Potential

Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for SIG from £0.16 to £0.14, reflecting updated assumptions that now combine higher projected revenue growth with a lower profit margin profile and a higher P/E multiple. What's in the News SIG announced that Chief Financial Officer Ian Ashton has resigned to take a new role at TT Electronics, with a transition period of up to six months in place to support continuity (Key Developments).
BMT
UK£8.50
Braime Group
7D
6.3%
1Y
-2.9%
GFTU
UK£8.25
Grafton Group
7D
1.7%
1Y
-18.6%
BNZL
UK£23.58
Bunzl
7D
-1.7%
1Y
-2.7%
HWDN
UK£7.67
Howden Joinery Group
7D
4.0%
1Y
-10.4%
SDY
UK£0.20
Speedy Hire
7D
-1.0%
1Y
-24.2%
Narrative Update • May 09

SDY: Incoming CFO And Asset Light Partnerships Will Drive Higher Margin Upside

Analysts have trimmed their price target for Speedy Hire to £X.XX from £Y.YY, citing slightly higher assumed discount rates and modestly adjusted forecasts for revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples as the main factors behind the reset. What's in the News Speedy Hire has appointed Judith Cottrell to the Board as Chief Financial Officer, with effect from July 1, 2026.
BRCK
UK£0.47
BRCK Group
7D
-1.3%
1Y
-31.9%
AT.
UK£4.74
Ashtead Technology Holdings
7D
-9.9%
1Y
6.9%
LTHM
UK£10.05
James Latham
7D
0.5%
1Y
-7.8%
AVAP
UK£1.36
Avation
7D
-2.9%
1Y
-7.5%
VP.
UK£4.51
Vp
7D
-5.1%
1Y
-23.3%