# Macfarlane Group PLC (MACF.L) fundamentals

Data as of 2026-09-08. LSE, United Kingdom. Sector: Consumer Cyclical / Distributors. Price 81p, market value 125 millionp.

## Valuation
- **P/E (trailing): 20.2×** (5-yr avg 1373.5×, 3-yr avg 1387.5×). Macfarlane Group PLC trades at 20.2× trailing earnings, well below its own five-year average of 1373.5×: cheap by its own standards. The Consumer Cyclical median in the September 2026 study was 19.5×. Forward P/E is 9.4×, lower than trailing, so analysts expect earnings to grow.
- **Price / sales: 0.2×**. Each dollar of revenue is priced at 0.2×, a low multiple typical of thin-margin businesses or out-of-favour stocks.
- **Price / book: 1.1×**. The shares trade at 1.1× book value; book value is a meaningful part of the valuation.
- **EV / EBITDA: 3.1×**. Enterprise value is 3.1× operating earnings before depreciation, the multiple that ignores how the company is financed; below 8× is inexpensive for most sectors.
- **Free-cash-flow yield: 34.1%** (5-yr avg 0.1%). Free cash flow equals 34.1% 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: 38.1%**. Macfarlane Group PLC keeps 38.1% of revenue after the direct cost of what it sells.
- **Operating margin: 6.3%**. 6.3% of revenue is left after running the business.
- **Net margin: 2.1%**. 2.1% of each dollar of sales reaches the bottom line.
- **Return on equity: 5.2%**. 5.2% on shareholders' equity is weak; the business earns little on the capital its owners have in it.
- **Return on invested capital: 13.9%**. Return on all capital, debt included, is 13.9%.
- **Return on assets: 7.9%**. Each dollar of assets produces 7.9% of profit.

## Growth
- **Revenue growth (1 yr): 11.2%** (3-yr 1.2%/yr, 5-yr 7.4%/yr). Revenue grew 11.2% over the last year, against 7.4% a year compounded over five years: growth is accelerating.
- **EPS growth (1 yr): -59.1%** (3-yr -25.9%/yr, 5-yr -9.1%/yr). Earnings per share fell 59.1%, slower than revenue, so margins compressed.
- **Free-cash-flow growth (3 yr): 11.2%/yr**. Free cash flow has compounded at 11.2% a year over three years, keeping pace with earnings: the growth is real cash.

## Financial health
- **Debt to equity: 0.74**. Debt is 0.74 times equity, moderate leverage.
- **Net debt / EBITDA: 1.2×**. It would take 1.2 years of operating earnings to repay net borrowings, within the comfortable range.
- **Interest coverage: 4.8×**. Operating profit covers interest 4.8× over, a safe margin.
- **Current ratio: 0.98** (quick 0.77). 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: 2.31**. A Z-score of 2.31 is in the grey zone; not distressed, not clearly safe.
- **Piotroski F-score: 5/9**. 5 of 9 checks pass: mixed.

## Dividends
- **Dividend yield: 4.68%** (0p per share, trailing). Macfarlane Group PLC yields 4.68%, an income-level yield.
- **Payout ratio: 92%** (27% of free cash flow). 92% of earnings goes out as dividends, leaving a thin cushion.
- **Consecutive years of increases: 5**. 5 straight years of increases.
- **Dividend growth (5 yr): 39.2%/yr** (1-yr 1.4%). The dividend has compounded at 39.2% a year over five years, doubling roughly every 2 years at that pace.
- **Shareholder yield: 6.7%**. Dividends plus net buybacks return 6.7% of the market value a year.

## Analyst view
- **Analyst consensus: buy** (2 analysts). 2 analysts cover Macfarlane Group PLC; the consensus is buy, with an average price target of 91p (+13% 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): -14.7%** (YTD 11.2%, 3-mo 24.0%). The shares are down 14.7% over twelve months including dividends.
- **From 52-week high: -17.4%** (35.1% above the low). Trading 17% 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): 71**. An RSI of 71 is in overbought territory; short-term pullbacks are common from here.
- **Beta (1 yr): 0.22** (volatility 37%). Beta of 0.22 against the FTSE All-Share: the shares move much less than the market.

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

Not investment advice.