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U.K. (FTSE) Trade Distributors Industry Analysis

UpdatedJun 05, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies21
  • 7D2.1%
  • 3M8.7%
  • 1Y11.4%
  • YTD11.7%

In the last week, the Trade Distributors industry is up 2.1%, with Diploma up 3.6%. In the last 12 months, the industry was up 11%. 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
Fri, 05 Jun 2026UK£29.1bUK£31.9bUK£939.9m15.5x30.9x0.9x
Sun, 03 May 2026UK£28.7bUK£31.7bUK£932.6m15.6x30.8x0.9x
Tue, 31 Mar 2026UK£26.3bUK£31.8bUK£932.2m15.2x28.2x0.8x
Thu, 26 Feb 2026UK£49.2bUK£39.5bUK£2.1b14.8x23.3x1.2x
Sat, 24 Jan 2026UK£48.4bUK£39.5bUK£2.1b14.5x22.9x1.2x
Mon, 22 Dec 2025UK£48.8bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b14x22.4x1.2x
Wed, 19 Nov 2025UK£45.0bUK£39.7bUK£2.2b14x20.2x1.1x
Fri, 17 Oct 2025UK£49.7bUK£39.6bUK£2.2b15.5x22.6x1.3x
Sun, 14 Sep 2025UK£50.2bUK£39.5bUK£2.3b15x21.6x1.3x
Tue, 12 Aug 2025UK£48.4bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b14.3x20.5x1.2x
Thu, 10 Jul 2025UK£47.1bUK£39.3bUK£2.4b14.1x20x1.2x
Sat, 07 Jun 2025UK£44.9bUK£39.4bUK£2.4b12.7x19.1x1.1x
Mon, 05 May 2025UK£42.8bUK£39.5bUK£2.4b13.8x18.2x1.1x
Wed, 02 Apr 2025UK£44.3bUK£39.9bUK£2.4b13.9x18.3x1.1x
Fri, 28 Feb 2025UK£50.2bUK£40.0bUK£2.4b12.5x20.5x1.3x
Sun, 26 Jan 2025UK£53.6bUK£40.1bUK£2.5b13.6x21.8x1.3x
Tue, 24 Dec 2024UK£51.7bUK£40.2bUK£2.5b13.2x20.6x1.3x
Thu, 21 Nov 2024UK£57.2bUK£39.5bUK£2.5b13.4x22.8x1.5x
Sat, 19 Oct 2024UK£58.5bUK£39.1bUK£2.5b14.5x23.7x1.5x
Mon, 16 Sep 2024UK£56.8bUK£39.0bUK£2.4b16x23.3x1.5x
Wed, 14 Aug 2024UK£53.8bUK£39.4bUK£2.6b15.9x21x1.4x
Fri, 12 Jul 2024UK£55.7bUK£40.0bUK£3.0b14x18.4x1.4x
Sun, 09 Jun 2024UK£55.6bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b14x18.2x1.4x
Tue, 07 May 2024UK£56.3bUK£40.1bUK£3.2b13.9x17.7x1.4x
Thu, 04 Apr 2024UK£54.7bUK£40.0bUK£3.2b13.5x17.2x1.4x
Sat, 02 Mar 2024UK£55.8bUK£39.9bUK£3.4b11.1x16.3x1.4x
Mon, 29 Jan 2024UK£53.9bUK£40.4bUK£3.5b11.5x15.6x1.3x
Wed, 27 Dec 2023UK£55.0bUK£40.3bUK£3.4b11.1x16.2x1.4x
Fri, 24 Nov 2023UK£48.3bUK£39.8bUK£3.0b10.7x16x1.2x
Sun, 22 Oct 2023UK£45.9bUK£40.0bUK£3.1b10.1x14.7x1.1x
Tue, 19 Sep 2023UK£49.9bUK£39.8bUK£3.1b11.3x16x1.3x
Thu, 17 Aug 2023UK£51.3bUK£38.9bUK£3.1b11.2x16.8x1.3x
Sat, 15 Jul 2023UK£51.0bUK£38.8bUK£3.2b10.5x16.2x1.3x
Mon, 12 Jun 2023UK£52.2bUK£38.8bUK£3.2b10.7x16.4x1.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

16.4x


Total Market Cap: UK£52.2bTotal Earnings: UK£3.2bTotal Revenue: UK£38.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Trade Distributors Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 20.1x202420252026
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 30.9x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 20.1x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 1.3x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 0.91x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Trade Distributors industry have declined 33% 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 Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.K. Industrials industry?

GB Market-0.63%
Industrials-1.32%
Trade Distributors2.07%
Trade Companies and Distributors2.07%
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
BNZL BunzlUK£24.704.9%
+UK£372.4m		8.6%PE17.3x
HWDN Howden Joinery GroupUK£7.801.6%
+UK£64.8m		-8.3%PE15.7x
DPLM DiplomaUK£70.200.4%
+UK£40.2m		51.4%PE49.7x
TPK Travis PerkinsUK£5.431.7%
+UK£19.1m		-11.7%PS0.3x
AT. Ashtead Technology HoldingsUK£4.423.2%
+UK£10.9m		3.4%PE11x

Latest News

RS1
UK£6.49
RS Group
7D
-2.7%
1Y
14.1%
Narrative Update • Jun 02

RS1: Future Capital Returns And M&A Execution Will Support Earnings Upside Potential

Analyst price targets for RS Group have shifted modestly, with a recent move such as RBC Capital's adjustment to £7.80 helping to frame a mixed but still constructive view on the stock as analysts balance revised growth expectations, updated margin assumptions, and a slightly higher future P/E profile. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research on RS Group reflects a mix of caution and optimism, with several firms adjusting price targets and ratings in quick succession.
HWDN
UK£7.80
Howden Joinery Group
7D
1.6%
1Y
-8.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 02

HWDN: Final 2025 Dividend And Slight Model Tweaks Will Support Repricing Potential

Analysts have slightly adjusted their view on Howden Joinery Group, trimming the implied fair value by £0.03 as they factor in modestly different assumptions for the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E. This has led to a small downward move in their overall price target.
TPK
UK£5.43
Travis Perkins
7D
1.7%
1Y
-11.7%
Narrative Update • Jun 02

TPK: Higher Discount Rate Will Constrain Future Upside After Repeated Price Objective Cuts

Analysts have trimmed the price target on Travis Perkins, with the updated fair value moving from £4.81 to £4.43. This reflects revised assumptions around revenue growth, profit margins, discount rates and a lower future P/E, alongside recent target cuts from £7.40 to £6.85 and from £6.80 to £6.30 in Street research.
AT.
UK£4.42
Ashtead Technology Holdings
7D
3.2%
1Y
3.4%
GFTU
UK£8.27
Grafton Group
7D
-0.4%
1Y
-18.2%
SDY
UK£0.19
Speedy Hire
7D
-4.0%
1Y
-24.3%
Narrative Update • Jun 01

SDY: Incoming CFO Transition Will Support Higher Margin Upside Potential

Analysts have nudged their price target on Speedy Hire higher to £X.XX from £Y.YY, citing updated assumptions for slightly stronger revenue growth, profit margins, and a lower future P/E multiple as the main factors behind the change. What's in the News Speedy Hire plans a Chief Financial Officer transition, with Judith Cottrell joining the Board as CFO from July 1, 2026, following an external selection process that concluded earlier than initially expected (Key Developments).
BNZL
UK£24.70
Bunzl
7D
4.9%
1Y
8.6%
Narrative Update • May 31

BNZL: Guidance And Dividend Will Balance Margin Pressure And Barclays Downgrade

Analysts have made only a very small upward tweak to their Bunzl fair value estimate, with the target moving from £24.60 to about £24.62. This reflects updated views on discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E after recent research, including a downgrade at Barclays.
VP.
UK£4.53
Vp
7D
-4.8%
1Y
-25.2%
SHI
UK£0.082
SIG
7D
-2.4%
1Y
-42.9%
FLO
UK£0.56
Flowtech Fluidpower
7D
8.7%
1Y
-3.3%
DPLM
UK£70.20
Diploma
7D
0.4%
1Y
51.4%
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?
MACF
UK£0.65
Macfarlane Group
7D
-1.8%
1Y
-46.0%
PRO
UK£0.025
ProService Building Services Marketplace
7D
-25.1%
1Y
-63.5%
BRCK
UK£0.50
BRCK Group
7D
2.8%
1Y
-28.2%
LTHM
UK£10.10
James Latham
7D
1.0%
1Y
-10.2%
AVAP
UK£1.34
Avation
7D
-2.2%
1Y
-7.9%