Bunzl PLC, trading under the symbol BZLFY on the PNK exchange, is a leading distributor of non-food consumables such as food packaging, disposable cups, gloves, and sanitary equipment. The company operates globally, serving a wide range of sectors. Bunzl's competitors include companies like Sysco and Univar Solutions, which also provide distribution services for various consumable products.
On March 3, 2025, BZLFY reported its earnings, achieving an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.31, aligning perfectly with the estimated EPS. The company's revenue also matched expectations, reaching approximately $7.55 billion. This performance was discussed during Bunzl's Q4 2024 earnings call, where CEO Frank van Zanten and CFO Richard Howes shared insights with analysts from major financial institutions.
Despite meeting earnings expectations, Bunzl's shares fell by 6.7% to 3,412p, a seven-month low. This decline occurred even after announcing a £200 million share buyback and a 32nd consecutive annual dividend increase. The drop in share price may be linked to a previous profit warning in December, which cited unexpected deflation affecting profitability.
Bunzl's financial metrics provide a deeper understanding of its market position. The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 10.57, indicating the price investors are willing to pay for each dollar of earnings. Its price-to-sales ratio is about 0.86, suggesting the market values the company at less than one times its annual sales, while the enterprise value to sales ratio is around 1.04.
The enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio stands at approximately 13.28, offering insight into the company's valuation relative to its cash flow from operations. Bunzl's earnings yield is about 9.46%, reflecting the percentage of each dollar invested that was earned by the company. The debt-to-equity ratio is approximately 1.23, indicating moderate debt usage, and the current ratio is about 1.15, suggesting reasonable short-term financial health.
