# Essentra plc (ESNT.L) fundamentals

Data as of 2026-09-08. LSE, United Kingdom. Sector: Basic Materials / Chemicals. Price 109p, market value 309 millionp.

## Valuation
- **P/E (trailing): 54.5×** (5-yr avg 8725.5×, 3-yr avg 8725.5×). Essentra plc trades at 54.5× trailing earnings, well below its own five-year average of 8725.5×: cheap by its own standards. The Basic Materials median in the September 2026 study was 19.0×. Forward P/E is 13.9×, lower than trailing, so analysts expect earnings to grow.
- **Price / sales: 0.5×**. Each dollar of revenue is priced at 0.5×, a low multiple typical of thin-margin businesses or out-of-favour stocks.
- **Price / book: 1.2×**. The shares trade at 1.2× book value; book value is a meaningful part of the valuation.
- **EV / EBITDA: 4.7×**. Enterprise value is 4.7× operating earnings before depreciation, the multiple that ignores how the company is financed; below 8× is inexpensive for most sectors.
- **Free-cash-flow yield: 6.4%** (5-yr avg 0.0%). Free cash flow equals 6.4% of the market value, above its five-year average of 0.0%, so the shares are cheaper on cash than they have usually been. Above 5% is generally attractive.
- **Earnings yield: 1.8%**. The inverse of the P/E: 1.8% of the price is earned each year.

## Profitability
- **Gross margin: 46.7%**. Essentra plc keeps 46.7% of revenue after the direct cost of what it sells.
- **Operating margin: 6.1%**. 6.1% of revenue is left after running the business.
- **Net margin: 0.7%**. 0.7% of each dollar of sales reaches the bottom line.
- **Return on equity: 0.8%**. 0.8% on shareholders' equity is weak; the business earns little on the capital its owners have in it.
- **Return on invested capital: 10.4%**. Return on all capital, debt included, is 10.4%.
- **Return on assets: 2.6%**. Each dollar of assets produces 2.6% of profit.

## Growth
- **Revenue growth (1 yr): -0.1%** (3-yr -3.7%/yr, 5-yr -19.6%/yr). Revenue fell 0.1% over the last year, against -19.6% a year compounded over five years: growth is accelerating.
- **EPS growth (1 yr): -80.1%**. Earnings per share fell 80.1%, slower than revenue, so margins compressed.
- **Free-cash-flow growth (3 yr): -37.1%/yr**. Free cash flow has compounded at -37.1% a year over three years.

## Financial health
- **Debt to equity: 0.48**. Debt is 0.48 times equity: a conservative balance sheet.
- **Net debt / EBITDA: 1.1×**. It would take 1.1 years of operating earnings to repay net borrowings, within the comfortable range.
- **Interest coverage: 1.3×**. Operating profit covers interest only 1.3×: fragile.
- **Current ratio: 2.20** (quick 1.25). Current assets cover the next year's liabilities 2.20 times.
- **Altman Z-score: 2.68**. A Z-score of 2.68 is in the grey zone; not distressed, not clearly safe.
- **Piotroski F-score: 6/9**. 6 of 9 checks pass: mixed.

## Dividends
- **Dividend yield: 1.91%** (0p per share, trailing). Essentra plc yields 1.91%, a modest yield more typical of a growth-oriented payer.
- **Payout ratio: 319%** (86% of free cash flow). The dividend exceeds earnings (319% payout), though free cash flow still covers it.
- **Shareholder yield: 4.3%**. Dividends plus net buybacks return 4.3% of the market value a year.

## Analyst view
- **Analyst consensus: strong_buy** (7 analysts). 7 analysts cover Essentra plc; the consensus is strong_buy, with an average price target of 167p (+53% 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): 10.4%** (YTD 13.1%, 3-mo 31.6%). The shares are up 10.4% over twelve months including dividends.
- **From 52-week high: -5.4%** (39.0% above the low). Trading 5% 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): 57**. An RSI of 57 is neutral.
- **Beta (1 yr): 1.07** (volatility 36%). Beta of 1.07 against the FTSE All-Share: the shares move roughly with the market.

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

Not investment advice.