# Clarkson PLC (CKN.L) fundamentals

Data as of 2026-09-08. LSE, United Kingdom. Sector: Industrials / Marine. Price 5045p, market value 1.5 billionp.

## Valuation
- **P/E (trailing): 20.2×** (5-yr avg 1615.5×, 3-yr avg 1462.2×). Clarkson PLC trades at 20.2× trailing earnings, well below its own five-year average of 1615.5×: cheap by its own standards. The Industrials median in the September 2026 study was 25.7×. Forward P/E is 17.1×, lower than trailing, so analysts expect earnings to grow.
- **Price / sales: 1.2×**. Each dollar of revenue is priced at 1.2×.
- **Price / book: 2.9×**. The shares trade at 2.9× book value; book value is a meaningful part of the valuation.
- **EV / EBITDA: 5.2×**. Enterprise value is 5.2× operating earnings before depreciation, the multiple that ignores how the company is financed; below 8× is inexpensive for most sectors.
- **Free-cash-flow yield: 11.2%** (5-yr avg 0.1%). Free cash flow equals 11.2% of the market value, above its five-year average of 0.1%, so the shares are cheaper on cash than they have usually been. Above 5% is generally attractive.
- **Earnings yield: 5.0%**. The inverse of the P/E: 5.0% of the price is earned each year.

## Profitability
- **Gross margin: 94.1%**. Clarkson PLC keeps 94.1% of revenue after the direct cost of what it sells, the kind of margin that comes with software, brands or pricing power.
- **Operating margin: 13.5%**. 13.5% of revenue is left after running the business.
- **Net margin: 10.4%**. 10.4% of each dollar of sales reaches the bottom line.
- **Return on equity: 12.5%**. 12.5% on shareholders' equity is solid.
- **Return on invested capital: 122.5%**. Return on all capital, debt included, is 122.5%: comfortably above what that capital costs.
- **Return on assets: 15.4%**. Each dollar of assets produces 15.4% of profit.

## Growth
- **Revenue growth (1 yr): -4.5%** (3-yr 1.5%/yr, 5-yr 12.0%/yr). Revenue fell 4.5% over the last year, against 12.0% a year compounded over five years: growth is slowing.
- **EPS growth (1 yr): -22.5%** (3-yr -4.7%/yr). Earnings per share fell 22.5%, slower than revenue, so margins compressed.
- **Free-cash-flow growth (3 yr): -25.4%/yr**. Free cash flow has compounded at -25.4% a year over three years, lagging earnings: check whether profits are turning into cash.

## Financial health
- **Debt to equity: 0.11**. Debt is 0.11 times equity: a conservative balance sheet.
- **Net debt / EBITDA: net cash**. Clarkson PLC holds more cash than debt.
- **Interest coverage: 45.9×**. Operating profit covers interest 45.9× over, a safe margin.
- **Current ratio: 1.78** (quick 1.77). Current assets cover the next year's liabilities 1.78 times.
- **Altman Z-score: 4.08**. A Z-score of 4.08 places the company in the safe zone for bankruptcy risk.
- **Piotroski F-score: 6/9**. 6 of 9 checks pass: mixed.

## Dividends
- **Dividend yield: 2.24%** (1p per share, trailing). Clarkson PLC yields 2.24%, a modest yield more typical of a growth-oriented payer.
- **Payout ratio: 50%** (37% of free cash flow). 50% of earnings goes out as dividends, leaving room to keep raising it.
- **Consecutive years of increases: 13**. 13 straight years of increases, a record that survived at least one recession.
- **Dividend growth (5 yr): 7.1%/yr** (1-yr 5.8%). The dividend has grown 7.1% a year over five years.
- **Shareholder yield: 5.8%**. Dividends plus net buybacks return 5.8% of the market value a year.

## Analyst view
- **Analyst consensus: strong_buy** (6 analysts). 6 analysts cover Clarkson PLC; the consensus is strong_buy, with an average price target of 5578p (+11% from the current price). Analyst opinion is shown for context; it is not part of the Fundamental Score.

## Price and momentum
- **Total return (1 yr): 45.7%** (YTD 32.1%, 3-mo 7.2%). The shares are up 45.7% over twelve months including dividends.
- **From 52-week high: -8.0%** (49.9% above the low). Trading 8% below its 52-week high.
- **200-day average: above**. The price sits above its 200-day moving average, the usual definition of an uptrend.
- **RSI (14-day): 55**. An RSI of 55 is neutral.
- **Beta (1 yr): 0.60** (volatility 23%). Beta of 0.60 against the FTSE All-Share: the shares move much less than the market.

Live score and charts: https://foliofundamentals.com/analyzer?s=CKN.L · Page: https://foliofundamentals.com/stocks/ckn.l

Not investment advice.