# Craneware plc (CRW.L) fundamentals

Data as of 2026-09-08. LSE, United Kingdom. Sector: Healthcare / Health Care Providers & Services. Price 1356p, market value 464 millionp.

## Valuation
- **P/E (trailing): 29.5×** (5-yr avg 5468.7×, 3-yr avg 5366.3×). Craneware plc trades at 29.5× trailing earnings, well below its own five-year average of 5468.7×: cheap by its own standards. The Healthcare median in the September 2026 study was 28.5×. Forward P/E is 15.1×, lower than trailing, so analysts expect earnings to grow.
- **PEG: 0.23**. A PEG of 0.23 means the P/E is low relative to expected earnings growth: the market is not paying much for that growth.
- **Price / sales: 1.5×**. Each dollar of revenue is priced at 1.5×.
- **Price / book: 1.9×**. The shares trade at 1.9× book value; book value is a meaningful part of the valuation.
- **EV / EBITDA: 7.2×**. Enterprise value is 7.2× operating earnings before depreciation, the multiple that ignores how the company is financed; below 8× is inexpensive for most sectors.
- **Free-cash-flow yield: 12.5%** (5-yr avg 0.1%). Free cash flow equals 12.5% 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: 3.4%**. The inverse of the P/E: 3.4% of the price is earned each year.

## Profitability
- **Gross margin: 82.0%**. Craneware plc keeps 82.0% of revenue after the direct cost of what it sells, the kind of margin that comes with software, brands or pricing power.
- **Operating margin: 12.4%**. 12.4% of revenue is left after running the business.
- **Net margin: 9.6%**. 9.6% of each dollar of sales reaches the bottom line.
- **Return on equity: 5.8%**. 5.8% on shareholders' equity is weak; the business earns little on the capital its owners have in it.
- **Return on invested capital: 13.0%**. Return on all capital, debt included, is 13.0%.
- **Return on assets: 6.8%**. Each dollar of assets produces 6.8% of profit.

## Growth
- **Revenue growth (1 yr): 8.7%** (3-yr 7.5%/yr, 5-yr 23.5%/yr). Revenue grew 8.7% over the last year, against 23.5% a year compounded over five years: growth is slowing.
- **EPS growth (1 yr): 66.7%** (3-yr 26.8%/yr, 5-yr -2.4%/yr). Earnings per share rose 66.7%, faster than revenue, so margins expanded or the share count shrank.
- **Free-cash-flow growth (3 yr): 66.2%/yr**. Free cash flow has compounded at 66.2% a year over three years, keeping pace with earnings: the growth is real cash.

## Financial health
- **Debt to equity: 0.09**. Debt is 0.09 times equity: a conservative balance sheet.
- **Net debt / EBITDA: net cash**. Craneware plc holds more cash than debt.
- **Interest coverage: 12.5×**. Operating profit covers interest 12.5× over, a safe margin.
- **Current ratio: 0.66** (quick 0.66). Current liabilities exceed current assets, so the company depends on ongoing cash generation or refinancing to pay the next year's bills.
- **Altman Z-score: 2.56**. A Z-score of 2.56 is in the grey zone; not distressed, not clearly safe.
- **Piotroski F-score: 8/9**. 8 of 9 fundamental checks pass: strong and improving financials.

## Dividends
- **Dividend yield: 2.45%** (0p per share, trailing). Craneware plc yields 2.45%, a modest yield more typical of a growth-oriented payer.
- **Payout ratio: 67%** (35% of free cash flow). 67% of earnings goes out as dividends, leaving room to keep raising it.
- **Consecutive years of increases: 18**. 18 straight years of increases, a record that survived at least one recession.
- **Dividend growth (5 yr): 3.8%/yr** (1-yr 10.3%). The dividend has grown 3.8% a year over five years.
- **Shareholder yield: 2.7%**. Dividends plus net buybacks return 2.7% of the market value a year.

## Analyst view
- **Analyst consensus: strong_buy** (5 analysts). 5 analysts cover Craneware plc; the consensus is strong_buy, with an average price target of 2634p (+94% 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): -34.9%** (YTD -28.2%, 3-mo -7.0%). The shares are down 34.9% over twelve months including dividends.
- **From 52-week high: -48.7%** (37.2% above the low). Trading 49% below its 52-week high, deep in a drawdown.
- **200-day average: below**. The price sits below its 200-day moving average, the usual definition of a downtrend.
- **RSI (14-day): 59**. An RSI of 59 is neutral.
- **Beta (1 yr): 0.35** (volatility 49%). Beta of 0.35 against the FTSE All-Share: the shares move much less than the market.

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

Not investment advice.