James Cropper (CRPR) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: £31.53M
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 6.59K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 3.8
• Beta (1Y): 0.57
• Revenue Growth: 4.99%
• EPS Growth: 56.79%
• Country: UK
• Employees: 600
• Sector: Basic Materials
• Sector Strength: 58
• Industry: Paper, Lumber & Forest Products
• EPS (TTM): 0.21
• Shares Outstanding: 9,554,803
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 5,968
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 6,589
• PEG Ratio: -0.08
• Price to Book (P/B): 0.67
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.14
• P/FCF Ratio: 2.42
• 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: N/A
• Price Target Upside: N/A
• Rating Consensus: N/A
• Number of Analyst Covering: 0
• EPS Forecast (FY): 0.34
• Revenue Forecast (FY): £96.80M

• Rating: 60 Neutral
• Price Target: 399.00p ▲(1.01% Upside)
• Action: Reiterated Date: 12/07/25
• Date: Action: Reiterated 12/07/25

James Cropper's stock score is primarily supported by strong technical momentum and positive corporate events. However, financial performance challenges, particularly in profitability and valuation concerns due to negative earnings, weigh down the score.

Positive Factors

High gross margin

A 64.36% gross margin reflects efficient production and pricing power in specialty papers and materials. This durable margin buffer helps the company absorb SG&A and R&D spend, supports reinvestment in sustainable products, and underpins long-term recovery to operating profitability.

Improving free cash flow

Nearly doubling free cash flow indicates materially improved cash generation versus accounting profits. Strong FCF provides durable flexibility to service debt, fund targeted capex or innovation, and pursue sustainability initiatives without immediate reliance on external financing.

Established niche & sustainability focus

A long history, deep relationships with luxury and consumer brands, and emphasis on sustainable, high-value papers create durable competitive differentiation. These structural ties and ESG-aligned product positioning support steady demand and pricing resilience over the medium term.

Negative Factors

Negative net profitability

Sustained negative net and operating margins indicate the business is not yet generating profitability from operations. Over time this erodes retained earnings and constrains reinvestment capacity; management must materially cut costs or lift higher-margin volumes to reach durable profit levels.

Relatively high leverage

A D/E of 1.15 signals significant reliance on debt financing. Elevated leverage increases vulnerability to earnings volatility and raises interest burdens, limiting strategic flexibility. Deleveraging will be essential to reduce refinancing risk and free cash flow strain over the coming quarters.

Modest revenue growth

Low single-digit revenue growth constrains operating leverage and the ability to scale fixed-cost absorption. With negative margins, modest top-line gains are unlikely alone to restore profitability; the company needs sustained organic growth or new higher-margin product adoption to change the earnings trajectory.

James Cropper Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

James Cropper PLC manufactures and sells papers products and advanced materials. It operates through Paper, Colourform, and Technical Fibre Products segments. The company offers specialty papers and boards; and moulded fiber products, as well as converts paper. It also manufactures nonwovens material used in zero solutions, aerospace and defense, fire protection, construction, and transportation. It has operations in the United Kingdom, other European countries, Asia, the Americas, Australasia, and Africa. James Cropper PLC was founded in 1845 and is headquartered in Kendal, the United Kingdom.

How the Company Makes Money

James Cropper generates revenue primarily through the sale of its paper products and advanced materials. The company operates in several key segments: Paper, which produces high-quality specialty papers; Packaging, which focuses on sustainable packaging solutions; and Technical Fibre Products, which offers advanced materials for industrial applications. Revenue is derived from direct sales to clients, including luxury brands and manufacturers in various sectors. Additionally, James Cropper has established significant partnerships with brands in the luxury and consumer goods markets, which contribute to stable demand for its products. The company's commitment to sustainability and innovation also positions it favorably in the growing market for eco-friendly materials, further enhancing its revenue potential.

James Cropper Financial Statement Overview

Summary

James Cropper faces challenges in profitability and leverage, with negative net income and high debt levels. However, positive cash flow growth indicates improved cash generation capabilities, which could support future improvements.

Income Statement

James Cropper's income statement shows a mixed performance. The company has experienced a slight revenue growth of 3.07% in the most recent year, but profitability metrics are concerning. The gross profit margin remains strong at 64.36%, indicating efficient production, but the net profit margin is negative at -5.30%, reflecting significant losses. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also negative, suggesting operational challenges. The company needs to address its cost structure to improve profitability.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet reveals a moderate financial position. The debt-to-equity ratio is 1.15, indicating a relatively high level of leverage, which could pose risks if earnings do not improve. Return on equity is negative, reflecting the company's recent losses. However, the equity ratio is reasonable, suggesting a stable asset base. The company should focus on reducing debt and improving equity returns.

Cash Flow

Cash flow analysis shows some positive trends. Free cash flow has grown significantly by 96.04%, indicating improved cash generation capabilities. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.40, suggesting that cash flows are more stable than accounting profits. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.74, indicating that not all cash flows are translating into net income. Continued focus on cash flow management is essential.

Breakdown	TTM	Mar 2024	Mar 2023	Mar 2022	Mar 2021	Mar 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	101.19M	99.34M	102.97M	129.66M	104.92M	78.77M
Gross Profit	23.72M	63.93M	65.58M	28.03M	23.72M	15.09M
EBITDA	1.86M	-1.57M	-22.00K	6.56M	7.30M	6.70M
Net Income	-2.74M	-5.27M	-4.00M	516.00K	1.36M	1.57M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	74.84M	77.08M	85.95M	98.47M	92.60M	81.05M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	11.54M	10.61M	9.21M	8.11M	7.75M	7.27M
Total Debt	21.83M	23.50M	24.75M	24.27M	20.04M	14.27M
Total Liabilities	50.60M	56.67M	60.38M	66.40M	58.09M	51.15M
Stockholders Equity	24.23M	20.41M	25.57M	32.06M	34.51M	29.90M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	4.76M	5.64M	2.98M	-1.70M	-3.14M	4.46M
Operating Cash Flow	6.24M	7.65M	7.17M	4.69M	3.06M	7.59M
Investing Cash Flow	-2.98M	-3.25M	-4.32M	-6.64M	-6.60M	-4.49M
Financing Cash Flow	-2.54M	-2.80M	-1.48M	1.48M	4.41M	-4.64M

James Cropper Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 395.00
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 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:CRPR, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 395 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 358.85, above the 50-day MA of 366.24, and above the 200-day MA of 305.74, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -11.13 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 30.23 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 33.24 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for GB:CRPR.

James Cropper Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
ELM	64 Neutral	£915.04M	-9.47	3.37%	1.34%	-11.78%	-92.61%
ESNT	63 Neutral	£280.77M	267.50	3.48%	2.44%	-4.71%	86.21%
ZTF	62 Neutral	£199.05M	4.13	0.60%	2.00%	15.56%	-92.94%
Sector *	61 Neutral	$10.43B	7.12	-0.05%	2.87%	2.86%	-36.73%
CRPR	60 Neutral	£31.53M	3.80	-11.07%	―	4.99%	56.79%
AXS	56 Neutral	£148.69M	-34.00	-21.28%	―	1.45%	―
MNDI	55 Neutral	£3.71B	28.33	3.86%	6.76%	3.30%	-58.67%

James Cropper Corporate Events

James Cropper Shareholding Update: Internal Transactions Maintain Concert Party’s Stake

James Cropper plc is a company involved in the manufacturing industry, focusing on the production of paper products and advanced materials. Recently, James Cropper and Jem Cropper, both closely associated with the Non-Executive Chair Mark Cropper, purchased a total of 4,225 shares in the company. This transaction does not alter the collective interest of the Concert Party, which holds a significant 37.08% of the company’s issued share capital. The purchase reflects internal shareholding adjustments without impacting the overall market position or stakeholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:CRPR) stock is a Hold with a £332.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on James Cropper stock, see the GB:CRPR Stock Forecast page.