Clarkson Plc (GB:CKN)
LSE:CKN
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Clarkson
(LSE:CKN)
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Rating:75Outperform
Price Target:
5,119.00 p
▲(22.91% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/12/26
The score is driven primarily by strong underlying financial quality—high margins and a low-leverage, strengthening balance sheet—tempered by weakening 2025 revenue/profit/cash-flow momentum. Technically the trend is positive (above major moving averages with positive MACD), but overbought RSI/Stoch readings add near-term risk, while valuation is reasonable but not notably cheap.
Positive Factors
Exceptionally high margins
Clarkson's gross margins near 90–96% and sustained net margins around 10–13% indicate persistent pricing power and low direct cost intensity across services. High margins support durable cash generation and reinvestment capacity, making earnings more resilient through shipping cycles.
Negative Factors
Revenue momentum weakening
A reversal to negative revenue growth in 2025 signals softer end-market activity or reduced transaction volumes for brokerage and financial services. Prolonged revenue contraction would pressure operating leverage, limit reinvestment, and challenge sustaining prior profitability levels.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Exceptionally high margins
Clarkson's gross margins near 90–96% and sustained net margins around 10–13% indicate persistent pricing power and low direct cost intensity across services. High margins support durable cash generation and reinvestment capacity, making earnings more resilient through shipping cycles.
Read all positive factors
Clarkson (CKN) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)
Market Cap
£1.46B
Dividend Yield2.89%
Average Volume (3M)43.54K
Price to Earnings (P/E)17.8
Beta (1Y)0.63
Revenue Growth3.29%
EPS Growth-8.76%
CountryUK
Employees2,181
SectorIndustrials
Sector Strength72
IndustryMarine Shipping
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)1.20
Shares Outstanding30,938,742
10 Day Avg. Volume36,407
30 Day Avg. Volume43,541
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio-0.78
Price to Book (P/B)2.23
Price to Sales (P/S)1.85
P/FCF Ratio16.64
Enterprise Value/Market CapN/A
Enterprise Value/RevenueN/A
Enterprise Value/Gross ProfitN/A
Enterprise Value/EbitdaN/A
Forecast
1Y Price Target
£4,866.67Price Target Upside16.85% Upside
Rating ConsensusModerate Buy
Number of Analyst Covering3
EPS Forecast (FY)2.49
Revenue Forecast (FY)£672.81M
Clarkson Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
Clarkson PLC provides integrated shipping services worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Broking, Financial, Support, and Research. The Broking segment offers services to ship owners and charterers in the transportation of various...
How the Company Makes Money
Clarkson makes money primarily by earning fees and commissions from shipping-related transactions and services across its business segments. In its Broking segment, it generates revenue largely from brokerage commissions and fees tied to arranging...
Clarkson Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
78
Positive
Balance Sheet
86
Very Positive
Cash Flow
72
Positive
| Breakdown | Dec 2025 | Dec 2024 | Dec 2023 | Dec 2022 | Dec 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | |||||
| Total Revenue | 631.40M | 661.40M | 639.40M | 603.80M | 443.30M |
| Gross Profit | 570.30M | 627.70M | 609.00M | 582.00M | 426.80M |
| EBITDA | 99.40M | 134.20M | 108.60M | 120.10M | 86.20M |
| Net Income | 65.70M | 84.90M | 83.80M | 75.60M | 50.10M |
Balance Sheet | |||||
| Total Assets | 978.50M | 900.30M | 875.60M | 832.30M | 682.10M |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 471.50M | 493.50M | 439.00M | 387.90M | 271.90M |
| Total Debt | 56.00M | 38.10M | 43.20M | 47.60M | 53.80M |
| Total Liabilities | 450.70M | 404.60M | 419.00M | 419.10M | 320.50M |
| Stockholders Equity | 525.10M | 492.00M | 452.60M | 409.70M | 356.90M |
Cash Flow | |||||
| Free Cash Flow | 70.40M | 109.00M | 147.30M | 169.30M | 107.20M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 75.90M | 114.70M | 155.30M | 178.90M | 113.80M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -20.50M | -16.80M | -38.60M | -5.40M | 14.30M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -76.50M | -70.70M | -90.00M | -63.20M | -39.90M |
Clarkson Technical Analysis
Positive
4165.00
Price Trends
4351.60
Positive
4085.20
Positive
3784.52
Positive
Market Momentum
86.56
Positive
66.13
Neutral
76.32
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:CKN, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 4165 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 4601.50, below the 50-day MA of 4351.60, and above the 200-day MA of 3784.52, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 86.56 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 66.13 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 76.32 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for GB:CKN.
Clarkson Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
GB:CKN
Clarkson
4,725.00
1,614.90
51.92%
GB:BMS
Braemar Shipping Services
223.00
9.54
4.47%
GB:FSJ
James Fisher & Sons
447.00
137.00
44.19%
Clarkson Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Clarkson boosts dividend as profits ease but order book and cash stay strong
Neutral
Mar 9, 2026
Clarkson PLC reported a decline in 2025 underlying profit before tax to £90.6m from £115.3m and revenue slipping to £631.4m amid a year of geopolitical shocks, tariffs and sanctions that slowed activity in the first half. Despite lo...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Clarkson PLC Confirms Total Voting Rights at Just Over 30.9 Million Shares
Neutral
Feb 2, 2026
Clarkson PLC has confirmed that, as of 31 January 2026, its issued share capital comprises 30,917,444 ordinary shares, each carrying one voting right, with no shares held in treasury. This disclosure, made in line with UK financial transparency ru...
Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Clarkson PLC Expects 2025 Profit to Reach at Least £90m on Strong Second Half
Positive
Jan 9, 2026
Clarkson PLC has signalled a strong trading performance for 2025, stating that its underlying profit before tax for the year to 31 December 2025 is expected to be at least £90m, driven by a stronger second half. The update underlines the resi...
Business Operations and StrategyM&A Transactions
Clarksons Buys AI Trading Specialist Zuma Labs to Boost FFA Market Technology
Positive
Jan 8, 2026
Clarkson PLC has acquired 100% of Zuma Labs Limited, a technology firm serving the Forward Freight Agreement and commodities markets, in a move to strengthen its technology-led offering to shipping, commodities and maritime clients. Zuma’s f...
Regulatory Filings and Compliance
Clarkson PLC Confirms Total Voting Rights of 30.9 Million Shares
Neutral
Jan 2, 2026
Clarkson PLC has confirmed that its issued share capital at 31 December 2025 comprised 30,913,052 ordinary shares, each carrying one voting right, and that it holds no shares in treasury, resulting in an identical total of 30,913,052 voting rights...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.