Clarkson (CKN) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: £1.17B
• Dividend Yield: 2.89%
• Average Volume (3M): 43.54K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 15.5
• Beta (1Y): 0.69
• Revenue Growth: 3.29%
• EPS Growth: -8.76%
• Country: UK
• Employees: 2,181
• Sector: Industrials
• Sector Strength: 72
• Industry: Marine Shipping
• EPS (TTM): 0.99
• Shares Outstanding: 30,901,197
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 36,407
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 43,541
• PEG Ratio: 19.66
• Price to Book (P/B): 2.47
• Price to Sales (P/S): 1.84
• P/FCF Ratio: 11.14
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: N/A
• 1Y Price Target: £4,255.42
• Price Target Upside: 12.28% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 1
• EPS Forecast (FY): N/A
• Revenue Forecast (FY): N/A

• Rating: 77 Outperform
• Price Target: 4,279.00p ▲(12.90% Upside)

Clarkson PLC demonstrates strong financial performance with robust revenue and profit growth, supported by a solid balance sheet. The technical indicators show a positive trend, though caution is warranted due to potential overbought conditions. The valuation is fair, with a reasonable P/E ratio and attractive dividend yield. Insider share purchases further bolster confidence in the company's prospects.

Positive Factors

Strong Financial Position

Clarkson's strong financial position, characterized by consistent revenue and profit growth, supports its ability to invest in future opportunities and withstand economic fluctuations.

Low Debt Profile

A low debt-to-equity ratio enhances Clarkson's financial stability, reducing risk and providing flexibility for strategic investments and growth initiatives.

High Gross Profit Margin

A high gross profit margin indicates Clarkson's strong pricing power and cost management, contributing to sustained profitability and competitive advantage.

Negative Factors

Decline in Free Cash Flow

The decline in free cash flow could constrain Clarkson's ability to invest in growth opportunities or reduce debt, potentially impacting long-term financial flexibility.

Decreased EBIT and EBITDA Margins

Decreased EBIT and EBITDA margins suggest a need for improved operational efficiency, which could affect Clarkson's profitability if not addressed.

EPS Growth Decline

A decline in EPS growth indicates challenges in profitability expansion, which could affect investor confidence and the company's ability to generate shareholder value.

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 cargoes by sea; and to buyers and sellers/yards related to sale and purchase transactions, as well as futures broking operation. This segment deals in containers, deep sea tankers, dry cargo, liquefied petroleum gas and ammonia, liquefied natural gas, offshore, petrochemical gases, renewables, shortsea, specialized products, sale and purchase, and PCTC markets; and towage, salvage, and transportation markets. The Financial segment provides investment banking services for maritime, oil services, and natural resources sectors; structured asset finance services and projects in the shipping, offshore, and real estate sectors; and freight derivative products. This segment also offers equity and fixed income sales and trading; equity and credit research; and corporate access and corporate finance services, including advising clients on various equity and debt capital markets, and M&A transactions. The Support segment provides port and agency, freight forwarding, supplies, and tools for the marine and offshore industries. The Research segment offers shipping-related information and publications; and collects, validates, analyses, and manages data to inform various business decisions. This segment provides web products, such as Shipping Intelligence Network and World Fleet Register to printed publications, including Shipping Intelligence Weekly and Offshore Intelligence Monthly; data and analysis services for IPO and bond issues; customer service contracts, primarily to the financial, government, insurance, equipment, and shipbuilding sectors; and valuations to owners and the financial community. It also offers research and legal services. The company was founded in 1852 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

How the Company Makes Money

Clarkson generates revenue through multiple streams, primarily from shipbroking services, where it earns commissions on transactions facilitated between shipowners and charterers. The company also offers financial and advisory services, providing consulting and market intelligence that contribute to its income. Additionally, Clarkson benefits from subscription fees for its proprietary market research and data analytics, which are valuable to clients seeking insights into shipping trends. Strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders and a strong global presence in key maritime hubs further enhance its revenue-generating capabilities.

Clarkson Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Clarkson's financial position is strong with consistent revenue and profit growth, supported by sound financial management. The company maintains a low debt profile and strong equity base, contributing to financial stability. While cash flow generation is adequate, the decline in free cash flow growth suggests a potential area for improvement.

Income Statement

Clarkson has demonstrated strong revenue growth, with a 3.44% increase from 2023 to 2024. The gross profit margin remains robust at 94.90% in 2024, indicating high profitability relative to revenue. The net profit margin improved slightly to 12.84% in 2024, reflecting efficient cost management. However, EBIT and EBITDA margins have slightly decreased, suggesting a need for better operational efficiency.

Balance Sheet

The debt-to-equity ratio is low at 0.08, indicating conservative leverage. The return on equity in 2024 is a solid 17.25%, showing effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio of 54.63% illustrates a strong equity base relative to total assets, enhancing financial stability and reducing risk.

Cash Flow

Operating cash flow is strong, covering net income by 1.35 times, indicating healthy cash generation from operations. Free cash flow has decreased by 25.99% from 2023 to 2024, which could constrain future investments or debt reduction. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio remains healthy at 1.28.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	649.10M	661.40M	639.40M	603.80M	443.30M	358.20M
Gross Profit	613.80M	627.70M	609.00M	582.00M	426.80M	344.90M
EBITDA	96.20M	134.20M	108.60M	120.10M	86.20M	1.20M
Net Income	75.20M	84.90M	83.80M	75.60M	50.10M	-28.90M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	774.20M	900.30M	875.60M	832.30M	682.10M	572.70M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	334.80M	493.50M	439.00M	387.90M	271.90M	204.50M
Total Debt	43.80M	38.10M	43.20M	47.60M	53.80M	56.20M
Total Liabilities	280.50M	404.60M	419.00M	419.10M	320.50M	244.30M
Stockholders Equity	491.50M	492.00M	452.60M	409.70M	356.90M	324.10M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	84.30M	109.00M	147.30M	169.30M	107.20M	56.10M
Operating Cash Flow	89.50M	114.70M	155.30M	178.90M	113.80M	65.90M
Investing Cash Flow	-33.10M	-16.80M	-38.60M	-5.40M	14.30M	-28.10M
Financing Cash Flow	-76.80M	-70.70M	-90.00M	-63.20M	-39.90M	-37.90M

Clarkson Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 3790.00
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: 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 3790 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 3759.50, above the 50-day MA of 3653.70, and above the 200-day MA of 3447.94, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 36.96 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 58.94 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 69.23 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

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
OCN	78 Outperform	£333.83M	8.51	―	11.40%	―	―
CKN	77 Outperform	£1.17B	15.48	15.43%	2.89%	3.29%	-8.76%
FSJ	73 Outperform	£186.72M	4.17	27.15%	―	-12.37%	―
BMS	64 Neutral	£68.70M	16.78	4.94%	2.25%	-15.64%	-22.46%
Sector *	63 Neutral	$10.79B	15.43	7.44%	2.01%	2.89%	-14.66%

Clarkson Corporate Events

Clarkson PLC Announces Total Voting Rights Update

Clarkson PLC announced that its issued share capital consists of 30,901,198 ordinary shares, each carrying one vote, with no shares held in Treasury. This total number of voting rights is crucial for shareholders to determine their interest in the company under the FCA’s rules, impacting how they notify changes in their holdings.

Clarkson PLC Announces Total Voting Rights Update

Clarkson PLC has announced its total voting rights as of October 31, 2025, with an issued share capital consisting of 30,789,998 ordinary shares, each carrying one vote. This update is in accordance with the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, providing shareholders with the necessary information for interest notifications. This announcement reflects Clarksons’ commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance, which is crucial for maintaining investor trust and supporting its market position.

Clarkson PLC Announces Block Listing of Shares on London Stock Exchange

Clarkson PLC has applied for the block listing of 175,000 Ordinary Shares on the London Stock Exchange, expected to be effective on 27 October 2025. This move is part of the company’s employee share purchase and savings plans, reflecting its ongoing commitment to employee investment and market positioning.

Clarkson PLC Director Purchases Shares, Signaling Confidence

Clarkson PLC announced that Constantin Cotzias, an Independent Non-Executive Director, purchased 742 ordinary shares of the company at 3485 pence per share on 17 October 2025. This transaction, disclosed in accordance with the UK Market Abuse Regulation, reflects insider confidence and could potentially impact stakeholder perceptions positively, reinforcing trust in the company’s market position.

Clarkson PLC Announces New Company Secretary Appointment

Clarkson PLC has appointed Rachel Fletcher as the new Company Secretary, effective from October 1, 2025, following the retirement of Deborah Abrehart. Rachel Fletcher has been with Clarksons since 2018, previously serving as Deputy Company Secretary. This change in leadership is expected to continue supporting the company’s governance and operational efficiency.

Clarkson PLC Announces Retirement of CFO & COO Jeff Woyda

Clarkson PLC announced the retirement of its CFO & COO, Jeff Woyda, after 18 years of service. During his tenure, Woyda played a crucial role in shaping the company’s strategic direction, overseeing investments and acquisitions that expanded Clarksons’ global reach and product offerings. His leadership helped the company navigate significant challenges, including the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, while maintaining a strong growth trajectory. The board will initiate a search for his successor, ensuring a smooth transition. Woyda’s departure marks the end of an era, but Clarksons remains well-positioned for future growth.