tiprankstipranks
Trending News
More News >
Grafton (GB:GFTU)
LSE:GFTU
Advertisement

Grafton (GFTU) AI Stock Analysis

Compare
39 Followers

Top Page

GB:GFTU

Grafton

(LSE:GFTU)

Select Model
Select Model
Select Model
Outperform 77 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:
1,022.00p
▲(12.69% Upside)
Grafton's overall stock score is driven by solid financial performance and positive earnings call highlights, including profit growth and strong capital returns. The valuation is attractive with a reasonable P/E ratio and high dividend yield. Technical analysis indicates a neutral trend, with no significant momentum. Challenges in specific markets like Finland and the UK are noted but do not overshadow the positive aspects.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
The significant revenue growth indicates strong market demand and effective sales strategies, supporting long-term business expansion and stability.
Strong Capital Returns
Robust capital returns reflect a healthy financial position and management's commitment to shareholder value, enhancing investor confidence.
Performance in Ireland and Spain
Strong performance in key regions like Ireland and Spain highlights successful market penetration and strategic positioning, supporting future growth.
Negative Factors
Challenges in Finland
Operational challenges and declining revenue in Finland indicate potential market saturation or competitive pressures, which could hinder growth.
Weaker UK Market Conditions
Weak demand in the UK market, particularly in RMI, suggests structural challenges that may affect revenue and profitability in a key region.
Decline in Net Profit Margin
A declining net profit margin indicates pressure on profitability, which could impact the company's ability to invest in growth and innovation.

Grafton (GFTU) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)

Grafton Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionGrafton Group plc engages in the distribution, retailing, and manufacturing businesses in Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, and the United Kingdom. Its Distribution segment distributes building and plumbing materials to professional trades people engaged in residential repair, maintenance, and improvement projects, as well as in residential and other new build construction. This segment operates 302 branches primarily under the Selco, MacBlair, and Leyland SDM brands in the United Kingdom; the Chadwicks brand in the Republic of Ireland; the Isero and Polvo brands in the Netherlands; and the IKH brand in Finland. The company's Retailing segment engages in DIY and home improvement business that supplies a range of products, including paints, lighting products, homestyle products, housewares, bathroom products, and kitchens, as well as gardening and Christmas products. This segment operates 35 stores primarily under the Woodie's brand. Its Manufacturing segment manufactures dry mortar for residential and commercial construction projects; and plastics and wooden staircase. Grafton Group plc was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
How the Company Makes MoneyGrafton generates revenue primarily through the sale of building materials and related products to construction and trade professionals. The company operates through several subsidiaries, which contribute to its diverse revenue streams by targeting different market segments, including merchants, retailers, and online platforms. Key revenue streams include sales from branches and distribution centers, e-commerce sales, and value-added services such as delivery and logistics. Grafton also benefits from strategic partnerships with well-known manufacturers and suppliers, enhancing its product offerings and market reach. Additionally, the company's focus on expanding its digital presence and improving operational efficiency plays a significant role in driving profitability.

Grafton Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Sep 04, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 26, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a generally positive outlook with highlights including a return to profit growth, strong capital returns, and robust performances in Ireland and Spain. However, challenges in Finland and continued weakness in the UK market, particularly in RMI demand, were noted as lowlights.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Return to Profit Growth
Adjusted operating profit increased by almost 10%, and adjusted earnings per share rose by 6.5%.
Strong Capital Returns
GBP 81 million returned to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. A new buyback program for GBP 25 million announced.
Revenue Growth
Revenue of GBP 1.25 billion was 10.1% higher than the same period last year, with a 60 basis point improvement in gross margin.
Strong Performance in Ireland and Spain
Irish distribution business delivered a 7.3% increase in adjusted operating profit, and Spain's Salvador Escoda showed a 6.9% increase in like-for-like revenue.
Negative Updates
Challenges in Finland
The business experienced a revenue decline of 5.8% with significant gross margin pressure and operational challenges.
Weaker UK Market Conditions
RMI demand remained weak, especially in London and the Southeast, impacting the UK distribution business.
Company Guidance
In the recent call, Grafton Group provided detailed guidance on its financial performance, highlighting a return to profit growth for the first time in several years. The company reported a 10% increase in adjusted operating profit and a 6.5% rise in adjusted earnings per share. Strong free cash conversion bolstered the group's balance sheet, which showed net cash of GBP 246 million at the end of June. The company returned GBP 81 million to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks, and announced a new GBP 25 million buyback program. Revenue increased by 10.1% to GBP 1.25 billion, with a 60 basis point improvement in gross margin, maintaining a first-half margin of 7.3%. The effective tax rate was 19.5%, and adjusted return on capital employed stood at 10.9%. The call emphasized continued growth in Ireland and Spain, with a cautious outlook for the U.K. and Finland due to challenging market conditions.

Grafton Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Grafton has a stable financial position with strong equity and moderate leverage, though there are concerns regarding profitability and cash flow trends. While the company manages its costs effectively, leading to healthy gross margins, there are challenges in growing revenue and maintaining net profitability. Cash flow management appears tighter, limiting flexibility for future growth opportunities.
Income Statement
78
Positive
The gross profit margin is robust, indicating effective cost management, with a gross profit margin of approximately 37.1% in 2024. However, the net profit margin declined from 6.4% in 2023 to 5.3% in 2024, suggesting pressure on bottom-line profitability. Revenue growth has been stagnant, with a slight decrease in revenue from 2023 to 2024, reflecting potential market challenges. The EBIT margin decreased from 7.9% to 6.7%, and EBITDA margin also saw a marginal decline, indicating reduced operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
82
Very Positive
The company's debt-to-equity ratio remains stable at approximately 0.40 in 2024, indicating moderate leverage. Return on equity (ROE) was about 7.6% in 2024, showing a decline from 9.0% in 2023, which suggests a decrease in profitability relative to shareholder equity. The equity ratio remains strong at around 58%, reflecting a solid capital structure with considerable equity financing.
Cash Flow
75
Positive
Operating cash flow decreased from 2023 to 2024, yet the operating cash flow to net income ratio remains healthy, indicating efficient conversion of net income into cash. Free cash flow also decreased, impacting the free cash flow to net income ratio, suggesting less cash available for expansion or debt repayment. Free cash flow growth has been negative, indicating potential cash flow management challenges.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue2.40B2.28B2.32B2.30B2.11B2.51B
Gross Profit158.39M845.89M374.45M868.65M830.91M855.72M
EBITDA274.52M310.55M333.39M386.80M371.06M246.80M
Net Income133.40M122.01M148.72M208.62M206.84M107.54M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.87B2.75B2.81B2.99B2.95B2.98B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments494.50M509.43M583.94M711.72M844.66M456.03M
Total Debt641.82M641.10M633.20M702.80M705.63M810.96M
Total Liabilities1.26B1.16B1.15B1.24B1.23B1.52B
Stockholders Equity1.61B1.60B1.66B1.75B1.72B1.47B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow207.13M199.97M220.04M159.50M194.59M279.26M
Operating Cash Flow240.23M246.82M272.82M217.34M239.03M316.33M
Investing Cash Flow-121.05M-37.10M-255.44M-70.58M353.22M-76.69M
Financing Cash Flow-192.22M-233.79M-342.29M-289.54M-193.10M-141.20M

Grafton Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price906.90
Price Trends
50DMA
879.91
Positive
100DMA
930.39
Negative
200DMA
895.50
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
4.76
Negative
RSI
59.82
Neutral
STOCH
75.48
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:GFTU, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 906.9 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 880.44, above the 50-day MA of 879.91, and above the 200-day MA of 895.50, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 4.76 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 59.82 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 75.48 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for GB:GFTU.

Grafton Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
77
Outperform
£1.75B13.438.33%4.11%5.75%5.86%
64
Neutral
£209.85M8.23%6.53%
64
Neutral
£2.67B17.3511.27%3.98%-1.32%-16.36%
63
Neutral
£52.36M-21.88-4.30%2.67%0.10%-32.11%
61
Neutral
£184.91M28.143.46%6.11%7.23%-59.68%
50
Neutral
£110.24M-1.58-27.03%-2.08%-9.83%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GB:GFTU
Grafton
906.90
-91.28
-9.14%
GB:RS1
RS Group PLC
563.50
-217.72
-27.87%
GB:SHI
SIG plc
9.33
-10.27
-52.40%
GB:LTHP
James Latham
122.50
7.87
6.87%
GB:BRCK
Brickability Group PLC
57.40
-2.31
-3.87%
GB:LORD
Lords Group Trading PLC
31.50
-8.03
-20.31%

Grafton Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
Grafton Group Advances Share Buyback Program with Recent Purchase
Positive
Sep 17, 2025

Grafton Group plc, a company involved in the building materials industry, announced the purchase and cancellation of 75,000 ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange as part of its ongoing GBP25 million share buyback program. This transaction, executed through Goodbody Stockbrokers UC, reflects Grafton’s commitment to enhancing shareholder value and optimizing its capital structure. The buyback program, which began on 4 September 2025, has seen a total of 595,000 shares purchased for cancellation, indicating the company’s strategic approach to managing its equity base.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:GFTU) stock is a Buy with a £1022.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Grafton stock, see the GB:GFTU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
Grafton Group Enhances Shareholder Value with Share Buyback
Positive
Sep 16, 2025

Grafton Group plc, a company engaged in a share buyback program, announced the purchase and cancellation of 65,000 ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange as part of its GBP25,000,000 buyback initiative. This transaction, executed through Goodbody Stockbrokers UC, is part of a broader strategy to enhance shareholder value, with a total of 520,000 shares repurchased since the program’s inception.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:GFTU) stock is a Buy with a £1022.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Grafton stock, see the GB:GFTU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
Grafton Group Advances Share Buyback Program with Recent Purchase
Positive
Sep 15, 2025

Grafton Group PLC, a company operating in the building materials and DIY retail sector, announced the purchase and cancellation of 65,000 ordinary shares as part of its £25 million share buyback program. This transaction, executed on the London Stock Exchange through Goodbody Stockbrokers, is part of a broader strategy to enhance shareholder value, with a total of 455,000 shares repurchased since the program’s commencement.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:GFTU) stock is a Buy with a £1022.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Grafton stock, see the GB:GFTU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
Grafton Group Advances Share Buyback Program with Latest Purchase
Positive
Sep 12, 2025

Grafton Group plc, a company engaged in a share buyback program, announced the purchase and cancellation of 65,000 ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange as part of its GBP25 million initiative. This transaction, executed through Goodbody Stockbrokers, marks a continuation of the program that began on 4 September 2025, with a total of 390,000 shares repurchased to date. The buyback program is a strategic move to enhance shareholder value and optimize the company’s capital structure.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:GFTU) stock is a Buy with a £969.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Grafton stock, see the GB:GFTU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
Grafton Group Advances Share Buyback Program
Positive
Sep 12, 2025

Grafton Group plc, a company involved in the building materials industry, has executed a share buyback program on the London Stock Exchange. On September 11, 2025, Grafton purchased 65,000 ordinary shares at an average price of GBP 8.9288 as part of its GBP 25 million buyback initiative, which began on September 4, 2025. This move is part of Grafton’s broader strategy to enhance shareholder value by reducing the number of shares outstanding, potentially increasing earnings per share and improving market perception.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:GFTU) stock is a Buy with a £969.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Grafton stock, see the GB:GFTU Stock Forecast page.

Stock Buyback
Grafton Group Advances Share Buyback Program with Latest Acquisition
Positive
Sep 11, 2025

Grafton Group plc has executed a share buyback transaction, acquiring 65,000 ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange as part of its £25 million share buyback program. This move, which follows the purchase of 325,000 shares since the program’s initiation on September 4, 2025, is aimed at enhancing shareholder value and optimizing the company’s capital structure.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:GFTU) stock is a Buy with a £969.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Grafton stock, see the GB:GFTU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
Grafton Group Advances Share Buyback Program with Recent Share Purchase
Positive
Sep 10, 2025

Grafton Group plc, a company involved in the building materials industry, has announced the purchase and cancellation of 65,000 ordinary shares as part of its GBP25 million share buyback program. This transaction, executed on the London Stock Exchange through Goodbody Stockbrokers, is part of a broader strategy to enhance shareholder value and optimize the company’s capital structure.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:GFTU) stock is a Buy with a £969.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Grafton stock, see the GB:GFTU Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyStock Buyback
Grafton Group Advances Share Buyback Program with Latest Purchase
Positive
Sep 9, 2025

Grafton Group plc has announced the purchase and cancellation of 65,000 ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange as part of its GBP25 million share buyback program. This transaction, executed through Goodbody Stockbrokers, is part of a broader strategy to enhance shareholder value, with a total of 195,000 shares purchased since the program’s commencement.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:GFTU) stock is a Buy with a £969.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Grafton stock, see the GB:GFTU Stock Forecast page.

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: Sep 20, 2025