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

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

UpdatedJul 15, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D1.2%
  • 3M5.7%
  • 1Y13.7%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the Trade Companies and Distributors industry has dropped 1.2%, driven by a pullback from Howden Joinery Group of 1.4%. On the other hand RS Group is actually up 6.3%. This takes the industry's 12 month performance to a gain of 13%. Earnings are forecast to grow by 13% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 15 Jul 2026UK£29.8bUK£31.9bUK£912.5m15.8x32.7x0.9x
Fri, 12 Jun 2026UK£28.9bUK£31.9bUK£926.4m15.2x31.2x0.9x
Sun, 10 May 2026UK£28.6bUK£31.7bUK£932.7m15.7x30.7x0.9x
Tue, 07 Apr 2026UK£27.1bUK£31.8bUK£932.2m15.8x29.1x0.9x
Thu, 05 Mar 2026UK£27.1bUK£31.6bUK£1.0b15.3x25.9x0.9x
Sat, 31 Jan 2026UK£45.8bUK£39.4bUK£2.1b14.7x21.8x1.2x
Mon, 29 Dec 2025UK£47.9bUK£39.6bUK£2.2b13.9x22.1x1.2x
Wed, 26 Nov 2025UK£46.2bUK£39.8bUK£2.2b14.3x20.5x1.2x
Fri, 24 Oct 2025UK£50.2bUK£39.6bUK£2.2b15x22.7x1.3x
Sun, 21 Sep 2025UK£49.4bUK£39.6bUK£2.3b14.9x21.2x1.2x
Tue, 19 Aug 2025UK£49.9bUK£39.3bUK£2.4b14.5x21.2x1.3x
Thu, 17 Jul 2025UK£46.4bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b13.9x19.6x1.2x
Sat, 14 Jun 2025UK£45.0bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b13.8x19x1.1x
Mon, 12 May 2025UK£43.7bUK£39.5bUK£2.3b13.1x18.6x1.1x
Wed, 09 Apr 2025UK£42.2bUK£39.8bUK£2.4b13.4x17.5x1.1x
Fri, 07 Mar 2025UK£47.9bUK£39.9bUK£2.4b13.9x19.8x1.2x
Sun, 02 Feb 2025UK£53.7bUK£40.2bUK£2.5b14x21.8x1.3x
Tue, 31 Dec 2024UK£51.4bUK£40.2bUK£2.5b13.2x20.5x1.3x
Thu, 28 Nov 2024UK£58.8bUK£39.4bUK£2.5b12.5x23.5x1.5x
Sat, 26 Oct 2024UK£57.4bUK£39.1bUK£2.5b14.1x23.2x1.5x
Mon, 23 Sep 2024UK£58.1bUK£38.9bUK£2.4b16.2x24x1.5x
Wed, 21 Aug 2024UK£54.3bUK£39.3bUK£2.5b16.1x21.3x1.4x
Fri, 19 Jul 2024UK£56.9bUK£39.9bUK£3.0b14x18.9x1.4x
Sun, 16 Jun 2024UK£54.5bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b13x17.8x1.4x
Tue, 14 May 2024UK£58.5bUK£40.1bUK£3.2b13.2x18.4x1.5x
Thu, 11 Apr 2024UK£55.7bUK£40.1bUK£3.2b13.4x17.5x1.4x
Sat, 09 Mar 2024UK£52.6bUK£39.8bUK£3.2b13.4x16.7x1.3x
Mon, 05 Feb 2024UK£54.4bUK£40.5bUK£3.5b11.3x15.7x1.3x
Wed, 03 Jan 2024UK£54.3bUK£40.5bUK£3.5b11.2x15.6x1.3x
Fri, 01 Dec 2023UK£48.5bUK£39.7bUK£3.0b10.8x16.1x1.2x
Sun, 29 Oct 2023UK£46.0bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b10.1x14.8x1.1x
Tue, 26 Sep 2023UK£49.1bUK£39.9bUK£3.1b11.8x15.7x1.2x
Thu, 24 Aug 2023UK£49.8bUK£39.0bUK£3.1b11.1x16.3x1.3x
Sat, 22 Jul 2023UK£51.7bUK£38.9bUK£3.1b10.7x16.9x1.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.9x


Total Market Cap: UK£51.7bTotal Earnings: UK£3.1bTotal Revenue: UK£38.9bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 20.7x202420252026
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 32.4x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 20.7x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 1.2x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 0.93x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Trading Companies and Distributors industry have declined 33% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 6.4% 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 Market-0.95%
Industrials-2.19%
Trade Distributors1.23%
Trade Companies and Distributors1.23%
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£6.446.3%
+UK£175.2m		11.3%PE18.3x
BNZL BunzlUK£27.181.9%
+UK£160.5m		18.3%PE19x
GFTU Grafton GroupUK£8.992.3%
+UK£38.9m		-0.9%PE12.4x
DPLM DiplomaUK£68.050.3%
+UK£26.8m		38.1%PE48.2x
BRCK BRCK GroupUK£0.525.5%
+UK£8.7m		-19.7%PE15.6x

Latest News

BRCK
UK£0.52
BRCK Group
7D
5.5%
1Y
-19.7%
SDY
UK£0.20
Speedy Hire
7D
-2.5%
1Y
-34.6%
Narrative Update • Jul 13

SDY: Higher Assumed Revenue And Dividend Outlook Will Support Future Returns

Analysts have lowered their fair value estimate for Speedy Hire from £0.35 to £0.28, citing updated assumptions that combine a higher discount rate, faster projected revenue growth, a slimmer profit margin and a higher future P/E multiple. What's in the News Speedy Hire proposed a final dividend for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2026 of 0.70 pence per share, with payment expected on 2 October 2026 to shareholders on the register as of 21 August 2026.
VP.
UK£4.90
Vp
7D
4.7%
1Y
-15.5%
Narrative Update • Jul 10

VP.: FY26 Profit Guidance Will Underpin Confidence Despite Tough Conditions

Analysts have lowered their fair value estimate for Vp from £8.28 to £6.66, citing updated assumptions around discount rates, profit margins, revenue growth and future P/E expectations as key drivers of the change. What’s in the News for Vp Vp reaffirmed its earnings guidance for the financial year ending 31 March 2026, indicating expected FY26 profits in a range of £26 million to £29 million.
RS1
UK£6.44
RS Group
7D
6.3%
1Y
11.3%
BMT
UK£13.00
Braime Group
7D
-10.3%
1Y
40.5%
DPLM
UK£68.05
Diploma
7D
0.3%
1Y
38.1%
BNZL
UK£27.18
Bunzl
7D
1.9%
1Y
18.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 29

BNZL: Updated Guidance And Activist Push Will Shape Future Margin Support

Bunzl's updated analyst price target has been raised to £3,000 from £2,800, with analysts pointing to modest adjustments in fair value estimates, the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions to support the change. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Bunzl highlights a cluster of higher price targets, with analysts fine tuning their assumptions on fair value, discount rates and future P/E to reflect how they see the company executing over time.
SHI
UK£0.084
SIG
7D
-0.6%
1Y
-45.1%
Narrative Update • Jun 24

SHI: Leadership Transition Will Set Stage For Re Rated Earnings Multiple

Analysts have lowered their fair value estimate for SIG from £0.12 to £0.10, citing updated assumptions on discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples. What’s in the News for SIG SIG plc has scheduled a Special and Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting for May 22, 2026, at SIG West London, Mathisen Way, Poyle, Slough, SL3 0HB, United Kingdom.
MACF
UK£0.65
Macfarlane Group
7D
-2.4%
1Y
-33.8%
Narrative Update • Jun 24

MACF: Steady Assumptions Will Support Future Upside Potential

Analysts have kept their fair value estimate for Macfarlane Group unchanged at £0.91. The slight tweaks in discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions reflect only minor model refinements rather than a shift in the overall price target view.
GFTU
UK£8.99
Grafton Group
7D
2.3%
1Y
-0.9%
Narrative Update • Jun 23

GFTU: Dividend Outlook Will Underpin Upside Despite Geopolitical Trading Headwinds

Analysts have adjusted their outlook on Grafton Group with a revised price target of £11.00 compared with the prior £11.50, citing a more challenging trading backdrop in March and April linked to rising geopolitical uncertainty, as well as modest tweaks to discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E assumptions. What’s in the News for Grafton Group Grafton Group approved a final dividend of 27.0 pence per ordinary share for the year ended 31 December 2025 at its Annual General Meeting held on 15 May 2026.
HWDN
UK£7.95
Howden Joinery Group
7D
-1.4%
1Y
-2.7%
Narrative Update • Jun 18

HWDN: Final 2025 Dividend Will Support Bullish Share Price Repricing

Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for Howden Joinery Group slightly to £10.02 from £10.05, reflecting updated assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins and the discount rate, while keeping future P/E expectations broadly in line with previous views. What's in the News for Howden Joinery Group Howden Joinery Group shareholders approved a final dividend for 2025 of 16.9 pence per share at the AGM held on 7 May 2026.
ASY
UK£5.75
Andrews Sykes Group
7D
2.7%
1Y
7.5%
AT.
UK£4.10
Ashtead Technology Holdings
7D
0.7%
1Y
-11.8%
PRO
UK£0.022
ProService Building Services Marketplace
7D
-5.4%
1Y
-76.2%
AVAP
UK£1.35
Avation
7D
-0.4%
1Y
-14.8%