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

UpdatedDec 15, 2025
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies24
  • 7D3.1%
  • 3M-3.6%
  • 1Y-8.2%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the Trade Companies and Distributors industry has risen 3.1%, driven by gains from Ashtead Group of 6.8%. However, the industry is down 8.2% over the past year. 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
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
Thu, 22 Dec 2022UK£47.9bUK£36.8bUK£3.1b12.2x15.6x1.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

15.6x


Total Market Cap: UK£47.9bTotal Earnings: UK£3.1bTotal Revenue: UK£36.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 18.6x202320242025
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 22.0x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 18.6x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 1.3x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Trading Companies and Distributors industry have declined 11% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues for these companies have grown 2.6% 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 Comparison

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

GB Market-0.0071%
Industrials0.64%
Trade Distributors3.15%
Trade Companies and Distributors3.15%
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£52.088.3%
+UK£1.6b		1.4%PE20.5x
RS1 RS GroupUK£6.658.3%
+UK£238.9m		-4.0%PE19.7x
BNZL BunzlUK£21.942.9%
+UK£199.8m		-38.3%PE14.6x
GFTU Grafton GroupUK£9.422.9%
+UK£51.3m		-1.6%PE13.5x
HWDN Howden Joinery GroupUK£8.160.9%
+UK£40.4m		0.2%PE17.3x

Latest News

RS1
UK£6.65
RS Group
7D
8.3%
1Y
-4.0%

RS1: Upgraded Outlook Will Struggle To Justify Richer Pricing

Analysts have nudged their price target on RS Group higher, from about £5.60 to roughly £7.60 per share, citing stabilizing end markets, improving operational efficiency, and a slightly stronger long term growth and profitability profile. Analyst Commentary Recent research updates present a mixed picture for RS Group, with some investors encouraged by signs of operational improvement and stabilizing demand, while others remain cautious on the balance of risks.
AHT
UK£52.08
Ashtead Group
7D
8.3%
1Y
1.4%
DPLM
UK£53.90
Diploma
7D
-1.0%
1Y
22.3%
GFTU
UK£9.42
Grafton Group
7D
2.9%
1Y
-1.6%

We Think Grafton Group (LON:GFTU) Can Stay On Top Of Its Debt

Dec 10
We Think Grafton Group (LON:GFTU) Can Stay On Top Of Its Debt
PRO
UK£0.088
ProService Building Services Marketplace
7D
-3.1%
1Y
57.8%
TPK
UK£6.09
Travis Perkins
7D
0.4%
1Y
-15.8%

Pinning Down Travis Perkins plc's (LON:TPK) P/S Is Difficult Right Now

Dec 09
Pinning Down Travis Perkins plc's (LON:TPK) P/S Is Difficult Right Now
MACF
UK£0.72
Macfarlane Group
7D
5.6%
1Y
-34.8%

MACF: Index Inclusion Will Support Liquidity And Undervalued Long-Term Upside

Analysts have nudged their price target on Macfarlane Group slightly higher to reflect a modest improvement in the company’s risk profile and forward earnings multiple, though the overall fair value estimate remains close to unchanged at approximately £0.98 per share. What's in the News Macfarlane Group PLC has been added to the S&P Global BMI Index, which may increase its visibility among global institutional investors (Index Constituent Adds).
SDY
UK£0.26
Speedy Hire
7D
-2.1%
1Y
-16.0%

SDY: New Marketplace Agreement Will Drive Margins And Future Earnings Upside

Narrative Update on Speedy Hire Analysts have trimmed their price target on Speedy Hire slightly, by around 1 percent to approximately £0.54. Higher assumed discount rates have offset improved expectations for revenue growth, margins, and a lower future price to earnings multiple.
VP.
UK£5.20
Vp
7D
-1.1%
1Y
-9.6%
LTHM
UK£9.80
James Latham
7D
-2.5%
1Y
-20.3%
HWDN
UK£8.16
Howden Joinery Group
7D
0.9%
1Y
0.2%

Capital Allocation Trends At Howden Joinery Group (LON:HWDN) Aren't Ideal

Nov 29
Capital Allocation Trends At Howden Joinery Group (LON:HWDN) Aren't Ideal
AVAP
UK£1.44
Avation
7D
2.9%
1Y
-8.9%
BNZL
UK£21.94
Bunzl
7D
2.9%
1Y
-38.3%

Does Bunzl (LON:BNZL) Have A Healthy Balance Sheet?

Nov 10
Does Bunzl (LON:BNZL) Have A Healthy Balance Sheet?
AT.
UK£3.30
Ashtead Technology Holdings
7D
-3.1%
1Y
-35.8%

Ashtead Technology Holdings (LON:AT.) Has A Pretty Healthy Balance Sheet

Oct 03
Ashtead Technology Holdings (LON:AT.) Has A Pretty Healthy Balance Sheet