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

UpdatedAug 06, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D5.0%
  • 3M11.9%
  • 1Y21.8%
  • YTDn/a

Over the last 7 days, the Trade Companies and Distributors industry has risen 2.5%, driven by gains from Diploma of 7.9%. Meanwhile, James Latham actually underperformed within the industry, shrinking 7.8% in the last week. In the last 12 months, the industry was up 21%. As for the next few years, earnings are expected to grow by 14% 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
Thu, 06 Aug 2026UK£32.4bUK£31.9bUK£918.4m16.1x35.3x1x
Sat, 04 Jul 2026UK£30.3bUK£31.9bUK£911.5m15.4x33.3x1x
Mon, 01 Jun 2026UK£28.6bUK£31.9bUK£939.9m15.5x30.4x0.9x
Wed, 29 Apr 2026UK£28.8bUK£31.7bUK£932.4m15.8x30.9x0.9x
Fri, 27 Mar 2026UK£26.4bUK£31.8bUK£932.3m15.2x28.3x0.8x
Sun, 22 Feb 2026UK£49.1bUK£39.6bUK£2.1b14.7x23.2x1.2x
Tue, 20 Jan 2026UK£47.6bUK£39.6bUK£2.1b14.3x22.4x1.2x
Thu, 18 Dec 2025UK£48.7bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b14.5x22.4x1.2x
Sat, 15 Nov 2025UK£46.0bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b14.5x20.6x1.2x
Mon, 13 Oct 2025UK£48.6bUK£39.6bUK£2.2b15.9x22x1.2x
Wed, 10 Sep 2025UK£51.0bUK£39.6bUK£2.3b15x21.9x1.3x
Fri, 08 Aug 2025UK£48.8bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b14.4x20.7x1.2x
Sun, 06 Jul 2025UK£47.2bUK£39.3bUK£2.4b14.2x20.1x1.2x
Tue, 03 Jun 2025UK£44.6bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b12.9x19x1.1x
Thu, 01 May 2025UK£42.0bUK£39.5bUK£2.3b13.9x17.9x1.1x
Sat, 29 Mar 2025UK£45.1bUK£39.9bUK£2.4b14.2x18.7x1.1x
Mon, 24 Feb 2025UK£51.4bUK£40.0bUK£2.4b12.9x21x1.3x
Wed, 22 Jan 2025UK£54.3bUK£40.3bUK£2.5b13.1x21.5x1.3x
Fri, 20 Dec 2024UK£51.6bUK£40.2bUK£2.5b13.2x20.6x1.3x
Sun, 17 Nov 2024UK£58.2bUK£39.4bUK£2.5b13.6x23.3x1.5x
Tue, 15 Oct 2024UK£57.1bUK£39.1bUK£2.5b14.3x23.2x1.5x
Thu, 12 Sep 2024UK£55.7bUK£39.1bUK£2.5b15.8x22.7x1.4x
Sat, 10 Aug 2024UK£53.8bUK£39.5bUK£2.6b15.8x20.9x1.4x
Mon, 08 Jul 2024UK£54.4bUK£40.0bUK£3.0b14x17.9x1.4x
Wed, 05 Jun 2024UK£55.4bUK£39.9bUK£3.1b13.9x18x1.4x
Fri, 03 May 2024UK£55.7bUK£40.1bUK£3.2b13x17.4x1.4x
Sun, 31 Mar 2024UK£55.7bUK£40.0bUK£3.2b13.6x17.5x1.4x
Tue, 27 Feb 2024UK£54.8bUK£40.0bUK£3.5b10.9x15.7x1.4x
Thu, 25 Jan 2024UK£51.9bUK£40.4bUK£3.5b11.2x15x1.3x
Sat, 23 Dec 2023UK£55.0bUK£40.3bUK£3.4b11.1x16.2x1.4x
Mon, 20 Nov 2023UK£49.7bUK£39.8bUK£3.0b11.2x16.4x1.2x
Wed, 18 Oct 2023UK£48.0bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b10.5x15.4x1.2x
Fri, 15 Sep 2023UK£49.8bUK£39.8bUK£3.1b11.3x16x1.3x
Sun, 13 Aug 2023UK£51.9bUK£39.0bUK£3.1b11.2x17x1.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

17x


Total Market Cap: UK£51.9bTotal Earnings: UK£3.1bTotal Revenue: UK£39.0bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Trade Companies and Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 21.1x202420252026
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 34.9x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 21.1x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 1.2x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 1.0x.
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 6.5% 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 Market0.33%
Industrials4.65%
Trade Distributors5.01%
Trade Companies and Distributors5.01%
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
DPLM DiplomaUK£76.757.9%
+UK£757.6m		41.9%PE54.3x
HWDN Howden Joinery GroupUK£8.335.9%
+UK£254.6m		-2.9%PE17.1x
TPK Travis PerkinsUK£6.6717.0%
+UK£205.5m		14.6%PS0.3x
RS1 RS GroupUK£7.425.9%
+UK£190.8m		34.9%PE21x
GFTU Grafton GroupUK£10.296.3%
+UK£115.8m		16.3%PE14.2x

Latest News

TPK
UK£6.67
Travis Perkins
7D
17.0%
1Y
14.6%
LORD
UK£0.13
Lords Group Trading
7D
-23.5%
1Y
-71.0%
Narrative Update • Jul 31

LORD: Future Earnings Multiple And Dividend Will Support Upside Potential

Lords Group Trading has had its analyst fair value estimate revised from £0.53 to £0.43, as analysts factor in a lower revenue growth outlook, softer profit margin expectations, and a higher assumed future P/E multiple. What's in the News Lords Group Trading shareholders approved a final dividend of 0.20 pence per ordinary share for the financial year ended 31 December 2025 at the AGM held on 18 June 2026.
FLO
UK£0.63
Flowtech Fluidpower
7D
-4.5%
1Y
8.6%
HWDN
UK£8.33
Howden Joinery Group
7D
5.9%
1Y
-2.9%
Analysis Article • Jul 26

Howden Joinery Group Plc (LON:HWDN) Just Released Its Half-Yearly Results And Analysts Are Updating Their Estimates

Shareholders might have noticed that Howden Joinery Group Plc ( LON:HWDN ) filed its half-year result this time last...
VP.
UK£4.61
Vp
7D
-4.9%
1Y
-23.2%
Narrative Update • Jul 24

VP.: Higher Discount Rate Will Support Future Re Rating Potential

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Vp to £5.50 from £7.00 as they now apply a slightly higher discount rate, assume more moderate revenue growth and profit margins, and expect a higher future P/E multiple. What’s in the News for Vp No recent company specific news items for Vp have been identified from the provided sources.
LTHM
UK£10.10
James Latham
7D
-7.8%
1Y
-10.2%
DPLM
UK£76.75
Diploma
7D
7.9%
1Y
41.9%
Narrative Update • Jul 22

DPLM: Peerless And Controls Execution Will Underpin Measured Repricing Expectations

Diploma's updated analyst price target now reflects a modest uplift, with fair value rising from about £77.04 to £79.77 per share as analysts factor in recent price target increases from several banks and slightly adjust assumptions for discount rate, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Diploma points to a largely supportive backdrop from the sell side, with several firms lifting their price targets in quick succession.
GFTU
UK£10.29
Grafton Group
7D
6.3%
1Y
16.3%
BNZL
UK£28.24
Bunzl
7D
0.4%
1Y
25.6%
Narrative Update • Jul 18

BNZL: Raised Expectations And Activist Pressure Will Shape Future Execution Risk

The updated analyst price target for Bunzl reflects a modest uplift in fair value to £26.55 from £25.82, supported by Street research that has raised price targets into a £2,600 to £3,000 range and highlights adjusted assumptions for discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on Bunzl points to a clustered range of price targets between £26.00 and £30.00, with several firms lifting their estimates into this band.
AT.
UK£4.23
Ashtead Technology Holdings
7D
2.9%
1Y
19.7%
SDY
UK£0.19
Speedy Hire
7D
-2.5%
1Y
-40.1%
RS1
UK£7.42
RS Group
7D
5.9%
1Y
34.9%
BMT
UK£12.00
Braime Group
7D
-4.0%
1Y
26.3%
MACF
UK£0.74
Macfarlane Group
7D
6.4%
1Y
-25.1%
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.
AVAP
UK£1.36
Avation
7D
-0.7%
1Y
-15.6%