Bunzl plc (BNZL.L) stock analysis

In our weekly check, Bunzl plc is graded B (A to F). Of 25 checks on debt, profit, cash flow and trend: 18 pass, warnings: 5, red flags: 2.

About Bunzl plc

Bunzl plc is a Consumer Defensive company (Food Distribution) based in the United Kingdom, listed on LSE as BNZL.L.

What our checks show for BNZL.L

Red flags

• Revenue fell 0.5% a year over the last 3 years.
• The net margin is only 3.9%: little room if costs rise.

Warning signs

• The net margin fell by 0.4 points over 5 years, to 3.9%: the company keeps less of each sale as profit.
• Analysts expect only about 2.4% a year of growth in revenue.
• Earnings per share fell 0.2% a year over the last 3 years.
• Net profit fell 1.1% a year over the last 3 years.
• The stock has fallen as much as 50% from a peak. Would you have held through that?

Strengths

• The gross margin is 15% and has risen by 2.2 points: pricing power is holding.
• Operating cash flow is 1.82x net profit: the profit arrives as real cash.
• Analysts expect earnings per share to grow about 13.4% a year over the next years.
• The dividend takes 39% of profit: there is a cushion.
• A large company: market value $11.83 billion.
• Beta 0.32: the stock usually moves less than the market.

Similar companies

DPLM.L · RXL.PA · CNM · POOL · QXO · AIT

Questions

What grade does Bunzl plc (BNZL.L) have?

In our weekly check, Bunzl plc is graded B (A to F). Of 25 checks on debt, profit, cash flow and trend: 18 pass, warnings: 5, red flags: 2. The grade is a risk check, not a buy or sell recommendation.

What are the main risks of BNZL.L stock?

This week's biggest flags for Bunzl plc: Weak revenue growth, Thin margins, Margins falling. In total 7 of 25 checks show a warning or a red flag.

What does Bunzl plc do?

Bunzl plc is a Consumer Defensive company (Food Distribution) based in the United Kingdom, listed on LSE as BNZL.L.

The grade is a risk check, not a price forecast, and not investment advice. In our 10-year test (S&P 500, 2016-2026), stocks we graded A or B fell more than 30% 2-3 times less often than D or F, without a lower average return.

Updated 2026-10-24

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