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S&U plc
(LSE:SUS)
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Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
1,994.00 p
▲(0.45% Upside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:09/30/26
The score is anchored by attractive valuation (low P/E and high dividend yield) and a constructive earnings-call outlook on growth and funding capacity. Offsetting these positives, financial quality is held back by inconsistent cash flow and higher leverage, while technical indicators show weak momentum with the share trading below major moving averages.
Positive Factors
Advantage lending and receivables growth
Rapid growth in Advantage advances and receivables demonstrates strong demand for the company’s core motor-finance product. If underwriting and collections remain disciplined, a larger loan book can expand recurring interest income and support durable earnings growth.
Negative Factors
Rising leverage and financial risk
Higher gearing increases the company’s sensitivity to weaker credit performance, slower loan repayments and changes in funding costs. More borrowings also require higher returns from additional lending, narrowing the margin for execution errors during portfolio expansion.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Advantage lending and receivables growth
Rapid growth in Advantage advances and receivables demonstrates strong demand for the company’s core motor-finance product. If underwriting and collections remain disciplined, a larger loan book can expand recurring interest income and support durable earnings growth.
Read all positive factors
S&U plc (SUS) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)
Market Cap
£230.26M
Dividend Yield6.12%
Average Volume (3M)5.64K
Price to Earnings (P/E)9.6
Beta (1Y)1.07
Revenue Growth5.62%
EPS Growth19.68%
CountryUK
Employees250
SectorFinancial
Sector Strength70
IndustryFinancial - Credit Services
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)1.97
Shares Outstanding12,150,760
10 Day Avg. Volume4,034
30 Day Avg. Volume5,636
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio0.37
Price to Book (P/B)1.16
Price to Sales (P/S)2.68
P/FCF Ratio-7.85
Enterprise Value/Market CapN/A
Enterprise Value/RevenueN/A
Enterprise Value/Gross ProfitN/A
Enterprise Value/EbitdaN/A
Forecast
1Y Price Target
£2,310.00Price Target Upside16.37% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering1
EPS Forecast (FY)2.18
Revenue Forecast (FY)£121.77M
S&U plc Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
S&U Plc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of motor finance services. It operates through the following segments: Motor Finance, Property Bridging Finance, and Central Costs. The company was founded by Clifford Coombs in 1938 and...
How the Company Makes Money
S&U plc makes money primarily by earning interest and related finance income on the loan balances it originates and holds. Its key revenue streams are: (1) Motor finance income (via Advantage Finance): the company provides financing to customers t...
S&U plc Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Sep 29, 2026
(Q2-2026)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 30, 2027
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call was broadly optimistic, with management highlighting 7% like-for-like profit growth, strong receivables and lending expansion, improving Advantage collections, record Aspen receivables, new funding capacity, technology investment, and a higher dividend. These positives were partly offset by only 1% reported profit growth, higher cost of sales and finance costs, increased gearing, slower Aspen repayments, and challenging UK property market conditions. Overall, the highlights significantly outweighed the lowlights.Positive Updates
Like-for-Like Profit Growth
Profit before tax was GBP 15.7 million versus GBP 15.6 million last year, a 1% increase. Excluding the large unexpected Aspen recovery recorded last year, like-for-like profit before tax increased 7% year on year.
Negative Updates
Reported Profit Growth Was Limited
Reported profit before tax increased only 1%, from GBP 15.6 million to GBP 15.7 million. The comparison was affected by a large unexpected recovery recognized in Aspen during the prior-year half.
Read all updates
Q2-2026 Updates
Positive
Negative
Like-for-Like Profit Growth
Profit before tax was GBP 15.7 million versus GBP 15.6 million last year, a 1% increase. Excluding the large unexpected Aspen recovery recorded last year, like-for-like profit before tax increased 7% year on year.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
Management said it made a further GBP 40 million worth of investment in the half year, another GBP 90 million on the previous year, and anticipates replicating the GBP 0.36 dividend for the two further dividends in the year, reaching a significant increase on the GBP 1.15 paid last year. It expects growth observed during the period to continue alongside its mantra of strong, sustainable growth, hopes to sign and draw down on two new three-year private warehouses in October, and expects funding capacity to increase from GBP 337 million to GBP 650 million. Advantage is targeting to significantly grow its market share to a point to which it would represent a doubling of market share by the end of that five-year period, supported by about 300,000 applications for finance per month, Probably about 180,000-200,000 of those are serious, and 2,000 of those, while Aspen has achieved annual growth of 16% and believes in its ability to continue this progress in the future; the group anticipates securitization will produce profit and dividends in the next few years.S&U plc Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
78
Positive
Balance Sheet
64
Positive
Cash Flow
29
Negative
| Breakdown | TTM | Jan 2026 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2024 | Jan 2023 | Jan 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | ||||||
| Total Revenue | 113.02M | 107.43M | 97.49M | 100.38M | 102.71M | 87.89M |
| Gross Profit | 85.16M | 82.92M | 97.49M | 92.11M | 78.51M | 68.59M |
| EBITDA | 48.73M | 46.65M | 24.46M | 49.14M | 49.43M | 51.32M |
| Net Income | 23.88M | 23.71M | 17.91M | 25.44M | 33.72M | 37.98M |
Balance Sheet | ||||||
| Total Assets | 545.95M | 501.22M | 445.06M | 466.85M | 428.17M | 327.23M |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 0.00 | 0.00 | 5.22M | 1.00K | 3.14M | 1.00K |
| Total Debt | 285.64M | 241.98M | 197.79M | 225.25M | 196.54M | 114.44M |
| Total Liabilities | 294.90M | 252.22M | 206.98M | 232.68M | 203.29M | 120.48M |
| Stockholders Equity | 251.04M | 249.00M | 238.08M | 234.16M | 224.88M | 206.75M |
Cash Flow | ||||||
| Free Cash Flow | -82.01M | -36.70M | 64.27M | -711.00K | -63.59M | -2.47M |
| Operating Cash Flow | -81.29M | -35.81M | 64.99M | -446.00K | -62.76M | -2.09M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -9.72M | -839.00K | -685.00K | -189.00K | -660.00K | -284.00K |
| Financing Cash Flow | 87.50M | 31.44M | -59.09M | -2.50M | 66.56M | 2.38M |
S&U plc Technical Analysis
Negative
1985.00
Price Trends
1918.33
Negative
1915.33
Negative
1951.39
Negative
Market Momentum
-3.45
Negative
48.59
Neutral
35.29
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:SUS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1985 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 1887.50, above the 50-day MA of 1918.33, and above the 200-day MA of 1951.39, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -3.45 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 48.59 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 35.29 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for GB:SUS.
S&U plc Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
74 Outperform | £54.49M | 8.90 | 8.28% | 5.58% | 5.19% | 14.53% | |
69 Neutral | £14.63M | 4.01 | 15.18% | 5.84% | 53.19% | 129.54% | |
68 Neutral | $18.00B | 11.42 | 9.92% | 3.81% | 9.73% | 1.22% | |
67 Neutral | £258.00M | 4.58 | 41.54% | 4.76% | 25.27% | 69.00% | |
61 Neutral | £230.26M | 9.62 | 9.55% | 6.12% | 5.62% | 19.68% | |
52 Neutral | £184.65M | 16.97 | 2.20% | 12.35% | 6.21% | ― |
* Financial Sector Average
GB:SUS
S&U plc
1,895.00
246.76
14.97%
GB:TIME
Time Finance plc
58.90
9.40
18.99%
GB:ORCH
Orchard Funding
68.50
13.11
23.67%
GB:VANQ
Vanquis Banking Group
72.80
-42.20
-36.70%
GB:ASAI
ASA International Group PLC
258.00
95.23
58.50%
S&U plc Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and FinancingRegulatory Filings and Compliance
S&U boosts lending and dividend as motor arm drives interim rebound
Positive
Sep 29, 2026
SU reported interim revenue of £57.3m, up 11% year on year, with profit before tax broadly flat at £15.7m and basic earnings per share nudging up to 96.8p. Net receivables rose sharply to £541.0m, funded by higher borrowings and gea...
Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
S&U to Unveil Interim Results with Expanded Analyst and Investor Engagement
Positive
Sep 17, 2026
SU plc has announced that it will release its interim results for the six‑month period ended 5 August 2026 on 29 September 2026. The company plans a detailed analyst meeting in London, led by its chairman, senior executives from Advantage Fi...
Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and Financing
S&U lifts lending to record levels as securitisation nears
Positive
Aug 26, 2026
SU plc reported a robust second quarter, with group capital receivables rising 20% year on year to a record £616m and debt quality remaining strong across its motor and property finance portfolios. Borrowings stand at £285m, below existi...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
S&U plc directors boost stakes as Coombs estate redistributes shares
Neutral
Aug 25, 2026
SU plc has disclosed a redistribution of shares following the grant of probate on the estate of the late Mrs CMG Coombs, resulting in 75,601 ordinary shares being transferred at nil consideration to company insiders. Chairman Anthony Coombs receiv...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
S&U Plc Director Resigns After Rival Motor Finance Acquisition
Neutral
Aug 3, 2026
SU plc has announced the immediate resignation of non-executive director Graham Wheeler from its board to avoid any potential conflict of interest. Wheeler’s departure follows Hodge Bank’s acquisition of Blue Motor Finance, which opera...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
S&U director Anthony Coombs disposes of 3,300 shares in on-market sale
Neutral
Jul 9, 2026
SU plc has disclosed that director Anthony Coombs sold 3,300 ordinary shares in the company on 9 July 2026, at a price of £19.40 per share in an on-market transaction on the London Stock Exchange. The disposal, carried out in compliance with ...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
S&U Director Anthony Coombs Sells 2,500 Shares on Market
Neutral
Jul 1, 2026
SU plc has disclosed that director Anthony Coombs sold 2,500 ordinary shares in the company at a price of £19.45 per share on 1 July 2026. The on-market transaction, conducted on the London Stock Exchange, forms part of routine regulatory dis...
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.