Bunzl has cut its guidance for the year and paused its share-buyback program given the uncertain macroenvironment and resulting margin pressure in its North American business.
Shares in Bunzl PLC (LSE:BNZL) rose 1% to 2,976p on Wednesday, bucking a wider market decline, after Stifel upgraded the stock to ‘buy' from ‘hold', citing improved trading momentum and a resilient business model that should hold up well even if Donald Trump reintroduces import tariffs. The broker raised its target slightly to 3,500p and said the current share price offered an “attractive entry point” given it trades at a 15% discount to its ten-year average.
Deutsche Bank has upgraded Bunzl PLC (LSE:BNZL) to 'buy' from 'hold', backing the distribution group to return to organic growth next year as volumes recover and pricing pressures begin to ease. The bank lifted its price target from 3,400p to 3,475p.
Bunzl plc (OTCPK:BZLFF) Q4 2024 Results Conference Call March 3, 2025 4:30 AM ET Company Participants Frank van Zanten - CEO Richard Howes - CFO Conference Call Participants Rory McKenzie - UBS Annelies Vermeulen - Morgan Stanley James Rose - Barclays David Brockton - Deutsche Numis Suhasini Varanasi - Goldman Sachs Karin So - JPMorgan Ryan Flight - Jefferies Frank van Zanten Good morning, and thank you for attending Bunzl's 2024 Full Year Results presentation. I appreciate you joining us today.
Bunzl PLC (LSE:BNZL) shares fell 6.7% to 3,412p, around a seven-month low, even though it announced final results slightly weaker than expected, though with a £200 million share buyback and a 32nd consecutive annual dividend increase. The distributor of non-food consumables, such as food packaging, disposable cups, gloves and sanitary equipment had issued a profit warning in December when it said profitability was being hit by "more persistent" deflation than it had previously anticipated.
Bunzl PLC investors will be awaiting to hear how the plastics distributables group is faring in full-year figures on Monday, March 3, after its last update brought caution over deflation. Profitability was said to be impacted over 2024 due to “more persistent” deflation “than previously anticipated,” Bunzl said last time out in December.
Citi has upgraded Bunzl PLC (LSE:BNZL) to a 'buy' rating, maintaining its target price of £37.00 and forecasting an estimated total return (ETR) of approximately 15%. The decision reflects a reassessment of Bunzl's defensive appeal, particularly as rising bond yields heighten market uncertainty.
Bunzl PLC (LSE:BNZL) expects underlying revenues this year to be 3% higher than a year ago, though added they will be flat or down slightly on an actual basis. Acquisitions will be the driver, added the plastics distributables group, with organic volumes starting to pick up but prices are still being affected by deflation being 'stickier' than expected.
RBC Capital upgraded Bunzl to Outperform from Sector Perform with a price target of 4,000 GBp, up from 3,350 GBp. The firm sees an increasingly positive earnings outlook and undemanding valuation for Bunzl.
Bunzl PLC (LSE:BNZL) has continued on its merry acquisitive way in 2024 seemingly oblivious to external forces that have tripped up others and more reassuring noises are expected with its end-of-year trading update next week. Having hit an all-time in September, the share price of the FTSE 100 plastic disposables group has retreated recently but history suggests this type of pause tends to be temporary in Bunzl's case.
Here is how Bunzl PLC (BZLFY) and Federal Signal (FSS) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.
Here is how Bunzl PLC (BZLFY) and Federal Signal (FSS) have performed compared to their sector so far this year.