# Judges Scientific plc (JDG.L) fundamentals

Data as of 2026-09-08. LSE, United Kingdom. Sector: Technology / Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components. Price 4068p, market value 271 millionp.

## Valuation
- **P/E (trailing): 50.2×** (5-yr avg 5487.9×, 3-yr avg 6283.9×). Judges Scientific plc trades at 50.2× trailing earnings, well below its own five-year average of 5487.9×: cheap by its own standards. The Technology median in the September 2026 study was 32.1×. Forward P/E is 18.1×, lower than trailing, so analysts expect earnings to grow.
- **Price / sales: 1.0×**. Each dollar of revenue is priced at 1.0×, a low multiple typical of thin-margin businesses or out-of-favour stocks.
- **Price / book: 3.2×**. The shares trade at 3.2× 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: 16.3%** (5-yr avg 0.0%). Free cash flow equals 16.3% 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: 2.0%**. The inverse of the P/E: 2.0% of the price is earned each year.

## Profitability
- **Gross margin: 12.5%**. Judges Scientific plc keeps 12.5% of revenue after the direct cost of what it sells, a thin margin typical of retail, distribution and commodity businesses.
- **Operating margin: 10.6%**. 10.6% of revenue is left after running the business.
- **Net margin: 3.8%**. 3.8% of each dollar of sales reaches the bottom line.
- **Return on equity: 6.6%**. 6.6% on shareholders' equity is weak; the business earns little on the capital its owners have in it.
- **Return on invested capital: 17.6%**. Return on all capital, debt included, is 17.6%: comfortably above what that capital costs.
- **Return on assets: 8.5%**. Each dollar of assets produces 8.5% of profit.

## Growth
- **Revenue growth (1 yr): 9.1%** (3-yr 8.8%/yr, 5-yr 12.8%/yr). Revenue grew 9.1% over the last year, against 12.8% a year compounded over five years: growth is slowing.
- **EPS growth (1 yr): -47.4%** (3-yr -25.3%/yr, 5-yr -8.9%/yr). Earnings per share fell 47.4%, slower than revenue, so margins compressed.
- **Free-cash-flow growth (3 yr): 19.4%/yr**. Free cash flow has compounded at 19.4% a year over three years, keeping pace with earnings: the growth is real cash.

## Financial health
- **Debt to equity: 0.78**. Debt is 0.78 times equity, moderate leverage.
- **Net debt / EBITDA: 0.8×**. It would take 0.8 years of operating earnings to repay net borrowings, within the comfortable range.
- **Interest coverage: 3.6×**. Operating profit covers interest 3.6× over, a safe margin.
- **Current ratio: 2.39** (quick 1.55). Current assets cover the next year's liabilities 2.39 times.
- **Altman Z-score: 3.46**. A Z-score of 3.46 places the company in the safe zone for bankruptcy risk.
- **Piotroski F-score: 7/9**. 7 of 9 fundamental checks pass: strong and improving financials.

## Dividends
- **Dividend yield: 2.80%** (1p per share, trailing). Judges Scientific plc yields 2.80%, a modest yield more typical of a growth-oriented payer.
- **Payout ratio: 129%** (31% of free cash flow). The dividend exceeds earnings (129% payout), though free cash flow still covers it.
- **Consecutive years of increases: 5**. 5 straight years of increases.
- **Dividend growth (5 yr): 15.9%/yr** (1-yr 10.0%). The dividend has compounded at 15.9% a year over five years, doubling roughly every 5 years at that pace.
- **Shareholder yield: 2.3%**. Dividends plus net buybacks return 2.3% of the market value a year.

## Analyst view
- **Analyst consensus: strong_buy** (4 analysts). 4 analysts cover Judges Scientific plc; the consensus is strong_buy, with an average price target of 6450p (+59% 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): -33.3%** (YTD -28.8%, 3-mo -4.0%). The shares are down 33.3% over twelve months including dividends.
- **From 52-week high: -39.3%** (16.9% above the low). Trading 39% 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): 42**. An RSI of 42 is neutral.
- **Beta (1 yr): 0.51** (volatility 38%). Beta of 0.51 against the FTSE All-Share: the shares move much less than the market.

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

Not investment advice.