# PZ Cussons Plc (PZC.L) fundamentals

Data as of 2026-09-08. LSE, United Kingdom. Sector: Consumer Defensive / Household Products. Price 101p, market value 424 millionp.

## Valuation
- **P/E (trailing): 20.1×** (5-yr avg 1948.0×, 3-yr avg 1884.4×). PZ Cussons Plc trades at 20.1× trailing earnings, well below its own five-year average of 1948.0×: cheap by its own standards. The Consumer Defensive median in the September 2026 study was 20.1×. Forward P/E is 12.2×, lower than trailing, so analysts expect earnings to grow.
- **PEG: 0.03**. A PEG of 0.03 means the P/E is low relative to expected earnings growth: the market is not paying much for that growth.
- **Price / sales: 0.8×**. Each dollar of revenue is priced at 0.8×, a low multiple typical of thin-margin businesses or out-of-favour stocks.
- **Price / book: 1.8×**. The shares trade at 1.8× book value; book value is a meaningful part of the valuation.
- **EV / EBITDA: 4.5×**. Enterprise value is 4.5× operating earnings before depreciation, the multiple that ignores how the company is financed; below 8× is inexpensive for most sectors.
- **Free-cash-flow yield: 5.6%** (5-yr avg 0.0%). Free cash flow equals 5.6% 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: 5.0%**. The inverse of the P/E: 5.0% of the price is earned each year.

## Profitability
- **Gross margin: 40.5%**. PZ Cussons Plc keeps 40.5% of revenue after the direct cost of what it sells.
- **Operating margin: 13.3%**. 13.3% of revenue is left after running the business.
- **Net margin: 3.7%**. 3.7% of each dollar of sales reaches the bottom line.
- **Return on equity: 8.5%**. 8.5% on shareholders' equity is weak; the business earns little on the capital its owners have in it.
- **Return on invested capital: 13.2%**. Return on all capital, debt included, is 13.2%.
- **Return on assets: 3.3%**. Each dollar of assets produces 3.3% of profit.

## Growth
- **Revenue growth (1 yr): 5.4%** (3-yr -6.2%/yr, 5-yr -2.1%/yr). Revenue grew 5.4% over the last year, against -2.1% a year compounded over five years: growth is accelerating.
- **EPS growth (1 yr): 438.4%** (3-yr -18.6%/yr, 5-yr -11.9%/yr). Earnings per share rose 438.4%, faster than revenue, so margins expanded or the share count shrank.
- **Free-cash-flow growth (3 yr): -22.9%/yr**. Free cash flow has compounded at -22.9% a year over three years, keeping pace with earnings: the growth is real cash.

## Financial health
- **Debt to equity: 0.38**. Debt is 0.38 times equity: a conservative balance sheet.
- **Net debt / EBITDA: 0.4×**. It would take 0.4 years of operating earnings to repay net borrowings, within the comfortable range.
- **Interest coverage: 6.0×**. Operating profit covers interest 6.0× over, a safe margin.
- **Current ratio: 0.84** (quick 0.55). 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: 2.49**. A Z-score of 2.49 is in the grey zone; not distressed, not clearly safe.
- **Piotroski F-score: 7/9**. 7 of 9 fundamental checks pass: strong and improving financials.

## Dividends
- **Dividend yield: 3.62%** (0p per share, trailing). PZ Cussons Plc yields 3.62%, an income-level yield.
- **Payout ratio: 76%** (64% of free cash flow). 76% of earnings goes out as dividends, leaving a thin cushion.
- **Consecutive years of increases: 1**. 1 straight year of increases.
- **Dividend growth (5 yr): -9.1%/yr** (1-yr 0.0%). The dividend has not grown over five years.

## Price and momentum
- **Total return (1 yr): 50.7%** (YTD 38.9%, 3-mo 17.7%). The shares are up 50.7% over twelve months including dividends.
- **From 52-week high: -11.8%** (54.5% above the low). Trading 12% 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): 46**. An RSI of 46 is neutral.
- **Beta (1 yr): 0.83** (volatility 42%). Beta of 0.83 against the FTSE All-Share: the shares move roughly with the market.

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

Not investment advice.