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FirstGroup (FGROY) AI Stock Analysis

FGROY

FirstGroup

(Other OTC:FGROY)

Select Model
Rating:58.5Neutral
Price Target:$3.00â–²(2.74% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:10/19/26

The overall score is constrained by a mixed financial picture, where strong cash flows and a solid balance sheet are offset by very thin profitability. The primary risk is the technical setup, with extremely overbought momentum indicators signaling a likely short-term reversal despite the stock's recent upward trend. Attractive valuation and a healthy dividend yield provide some support.

Positive Factors
Profitability RecoveryThe return to positive earnings after the 2024 net loss indicates meaningful operational recovery and provides a stronger base for funding investment and shareholder returns. If sustained, improved profitability can reinforce resilience and support gradual balance-sheet improvement over the next several quarters.
Negative Factors
Revenue ContractionThe 2026 revenue decline interrupts several years of expansion and signals that growth has recently slowed. A smaller revenue base can limit operating leverage and make it harder to absorb fixed costs, while sustained weakness would constrain the company’s ability to compound earnings.

FirstGroup (FGROY) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-30%-20%-10%0%10%20%FGROY+9.34%SPY+13.13%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
Market Cap
$1.55B
Dividend Yield
3.29%
Average Volume (3M)
1,378
Price to Earnings (P/E)
9.9
Beta (1Y)
0.51
Revenue Growth
-1.44%
EPS Growth
5.88%
Country
US
Employees
30,513
Sector
Industrials
Sector Strength
63
Industry
Railroads

FirstGroup Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

FirstGroup plc provides public transport services in the United Kingdom. It operates through First Bus and First Rail segments. The First Bus segment offers local bus services with a fleet of approximately 5,800 buses and coaches in the United Kingdo...

How the Company Makes Money

FirstGroup makes money primarily by operating bus services and earning revenue from passenger transportation and transport-related contracts. A key revenue stream is passenger fares collected on commercial bus routes (e.g., single and return tickets,...

FirstGroup Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 17, 2025(Q2-2026)|% Change Since:14.11%|Next Earnings Date:Nov 24, 2026
Earnings Call SentimentPositive

The earnings call reflects a strong performance in revenue growth and operational efficiencies, particularly in the bus and rail segments, despite economic challenges and a decline in bus volumes. The company's efforts in sustainability and expanding rail services are noteworthy achievements.

Positive Updates

Significant Revenue Growth
Group adjusted revenue increased by 30% to GBP 834 million, driven largely by the acquisition of First Bus London.

Negative Updates

Inflation and National Insurance Challenges
Faced headwinds from inflation and increased national insurance, impacting bus and rail revenue improvements.

Company Guidance

In FirstGroup's 2026 Half Year Results Presentation, the company reported strong financial performance despite facing economic challenges. Adjusted revenue, excluding national rail contract revenues, increased by 30% to GBP 834 million, largely due to the acquisition of First Bus London. Adjusted earnings per share rose by 16% to 9.9p, supported by the repurchase of approximately 22 million shares. The Board proposed an interim dividend of 2.2p per share, marking a 29% increase from the previous year. First Bus achieved a 24% reduction in lost mileage to 1.3% and improved its Net Promoter Score to plus 15. The company also completed a business restructure, delivering an annualized overhead saving of GBP 15 million. The open access rail operations maintained a seat miles capacity utilization of 67%, and FirstGroup secured rolling stock for a new Stirling to London Houston service, expected to be operational by mid-2026. The company is advancing its sustainability initiatives, launching First Charge and investing in Palmer Energy Technology for battery storage. Overall, FirstGroup is focused on driving operational efficiencies, enhancing customer service, and advancing its U.K. growth and diversification strategy.

FirstGroup Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Financial performance is mixed. Strong cash flow generation and a healthy balance sheet with declining leverage are positives. However, very low gross and net margins and a recent revenue decline weigh on the score.

Income Statement

40Negative

Balance Sheet

70Positive

Cash Flow

70Positive
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMMar 2026Mar 2025Mar 2024Mar 2023Mar 2022
Income Statement
Total Revenue4.78B4.83B4.65B4.26B3.86B2.93B
Gross Profit136.79M137.91M1.81B1.57B829.30M2.90B
EBITDA757.76M712.20M849.80M656.30M896.70M875.40M
Net Income119.11M120.22M127.50M-15.90M87.10M636.40M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.10B3.10B3.66B3.81B4.41B3.83B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments432.02M432.02M171.40M496.50M791.40M787.70M
Total Debt1.16B1.16B1.35B1.63B2.07B1.41B
Total Liabilities2.38B2.38B2.95B3.17B3.66B2.95B
Stockholders Equity710.04M710.04M696.70M633.30M740.20M876.60M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow383.04M384.86M597.80M324.00M395.90M-186.20M
Operating Cash Flow625.84M630.59M754.20M543.30M573.80M65.40M
Investing Cash Flow-192.09M-194.21M-150.90M-10.20M79.40M2.08B
Financing Cash Flow-456.51M-460.88M-641.50M-776.30M-640.90M-2.89B

FirstGroup Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price2.92

Price Trends

50DMA2.50Positive
100DMA2.46Positive
200DMA2.39Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.13Negative
RSI79.79Negative
STOCH79.75Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FGROY, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 2.92 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.70, above the 50-day MA of 2.50, and above the 200-day MA of 2.39, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.13 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 79.79 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 79.75 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FGROY.

FirstGroup Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)

Financial Indicators

FGROY against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
RJETRJET74Outperform$904.55M9.037.12%2.62%437.81%―
Sector *63Neutral$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
FGROYFGROY59Neutral$1.49B9.8917.75%3.29%-1.44%5.88%
ALGTALGT50Neutral$1.95B50.242.10%―12.24%―
VLRSVLRS48Neutral$734.05M-3.35-151.82%―18.55%-248.20%
ULCCULCC47Neutral$1.49B-3.58-186.46%―23.97%-200.15%
JBLUJBLU43Neutral$1.08B-1.05-58.36%―9.87%-104.29%

* Industrials Sector Average

Performance Comparison

0%50%100%FGROYALGTJBLUVLRSRJETULCCDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
FGROY and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
FGROYFirstGroup plc Unsponsored ADR2.900.2710.21%
ALGTAllegiant Travel71.3413.3122.94%
JBLUJetBlue Airways Corp2.85-1.23-30.15%
VLRSControladora Vuela Compania de Aviacion SAB de CV ADR Class A6.410.030.47%
RJETRepublic Airways Holdings Inc.19.32-0.48-2.42%
ULCCFrontier Group Holdings, Inc.6.452.8579.17%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Oct 19, 2026