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Mothercare PLC (GB:MTC)
LSE:MTC

Mothercare (MTC) AI Stock Analysis

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GB:MTC

Mothercare

(LSE:MTC)

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Neutral 45 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:45Neutral
Price Target:
2.00p
▼(-8.68% Downside)
The score is held down primarily by weak financial health (negative equity, negative operating/free cash flow, and declining revenue) and a bearish technical setup (below major moving averages with negative MACD). The main offset is a very low P/E, which improves the valuation component but does not outweigh the financial and trend risks.
Positive Factors
Niche product focus
Specialist positioning in maternity and early-childhood products creates a durable customer base and repeat purchase dynamics. Focused assortments and category expertise can build brand loyalty and pricing power over time, supporting recovery if execution improves.
Multi-channel distribution
An omnichannel model provides structural resilience by diversifying sales routes and reducing reliance on any single channel. Long-term, the ability to serve customers both in stores and online supports reach, inventory turnover optimization, and smoother demand shifts across markets.
Stable gross margin history
Relatively stable gross margins indicate underlying product pricing, sourcing, or category mix that protects unit economics. Even amid sales declines, stable gross margins give management room to restore operating leverage and profitability through cost control and sales recovery.
Negative Factors
Negative shareholders' equity
Negative equity reflects accumulated losses and a stressed capital structure, limiting borrowing capacity and leaving the company vulnerable to shocks. Over months this constrains investment, weakens supplier and lender confidence, and raises restructuring or recapitalization risk.
Negative operating and free cash flow
Persistent negative operating and free cash flow undermines the company's ability to fund working capital, capex and debt service from operations. Over the medium term this forces external financing, dilutes shareholders or leads to liquidity stress that impedes strategic initiatives.
Declining revenue trend
Sustained revenue decline erodes scale, reduces bargaining power with suppliers, and pressures fixed-cost absorption. Over several months this weakens margins, limits reinvestment capacity, and makes operational turnarounds harder absent clear product or channel recovery strategies.

Mothercare (MTC) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)

Mothercare Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMothercare plc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialist franchisor of products for mothers-to-be and children under the Mothercare brand. The company provides clothing, footwear, home, and travel products, as well as toys. It operates approximately 700 Mothercare stores and 400 additional stores under the Mothercare brand, as well as websites through a network of franchise partners in 37 countries. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Hemel Hempstead, the United Kingdom.
How the Company Makes MoneyMothercare generates revenue primarily through the sale of its diverse product range in both physical retail locations and through its e-commerce platform. The company's key revenue streams include direct sales of maternity and baby products, which encompass clothing, accessories, and nursery essentials. In addition, Mothercare may engage in licensing agreements and partnerships with other brands, allowing it to expand its product offerings and reach a broader customer base. Seasonal promotions, loyalty programs, and strategic marketing efforts also contribute to driving sales and enhancing customer retention, ultimately supporting its financial performance.

Mothercare Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Weak overall fundamentals: declining revenue (-19.3% latest year), inconsistent profitability, negative operating and free cash flow, and a highly stressed balance sheet with negative equity indicating elevated solvency risk.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Mothercare's income statement reveals significant challenges. The company has experienced a notable decline in revenue over the years, with a revenue growth rate of -19.3% in the most recent year. Despite a positive net profit margin of 15% in 2021, the company has struggled with profitability, as evidenced by negative net income in previous years. The gross profit margin has been relatively stable, but the declining revenue and inconsistent profitability are concerning.
Balance Sheet
30
Negative
The balance sheet shows a precarious financial position. The company has negative stockholders' equity, indicating potential solvency issues. The debt-to-equity ratio is not meaningful due to negative equity, but the high level of debt relative to assets suggests financial risk. The equity ratio is also negative, reflecting the company's reliance on debt financing. Overall, the balance sheet indicates financial instability.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis shows mixed results. Operating cash flow has been negative in recent periods, and free cash flow has also been negative, indicating cash flow challenges. The free cash flow growth rate is highly volatile, and the operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, suggesting inefficiencies in converting income to cash. The company needs to improve its cash flow management to ensure sustainability.
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue29.50M38.90M56.20M73.10M82.50M85.80M
Gross Profit11.80M14.80M19.60M20.90M27.60M22.50M
EBITDA15.10M16.40M7.50M6.90M15.80M-10.50M
Net Income6.30M6.20M3.30M-100.00K12.10M-21.50M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets26.30M28.70M22.40M30.60M36.80M35.60M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments3.00M4.30M5.00M7.10M9.20M6.90M
Total Debt8.80M8.80M19.90M20.00M20.20M20.40M
Total Liabilities36.40M38.10M52.50M32.40M35.30M78.60M
Stockholders Equity-10.10M-9.40M-30.10M-1.80M1.50M-43.00M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-2.60M-1.50M2.50M-800.00K2.70M-4.40M
Operating Cash Flow-2.60M-1.50M4.80M1.50M5.60M-4.00M
Investing Cash Flow15.50M14.80M-2.30M-2.30M-2.90M-400.00K
Financing Cash Flow-12.60M-14.00M-4.50M-1.20M-500.00K5.20M

Mothercare Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price2.19
Price Trends
50DMA
2.28
Negative
100DMA
2.55
Negative
200DMA
2.72
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.14
Positive
RSI
37.42
Neutral
STOCH
20.25
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:MTC, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 2.19 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.07, below the 50-day MA of 2.28, and below the 200-day MA of 2.72, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.14 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 37.42 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 20.25 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for GB:MTC.

Mothercare Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
63
Neutral
£609.82M49.907.52%13.21%-54.35%
61
Neutral
$18.38B12.79-2.54%3.03%1.52%-15.83%
60
Neutral
£16.56M-18.59-5.63%-1.65%-454.55%
60
Neutral
£672.04M-3.64-18.75%-20.36%44.33%
56
Neutral
£676.26M15.201.40%3.94%
52
Neutral
£19.63M2.1163.08%-1.96%28.69%
45
Neutral
£10.19M1.65-30.78%86.44%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
GB:MTC
Mothercare
1.85
-1.53
-45.25%
GB:SOS
Sosandar PLC
7.25
0.65
9.85%
GB:AO
AO World
104.80
7.00
7.16%
GB:THG
THG
36.42
-1.68
-4.41%
GB:WRKS
TheWorks.co.uk plc
31.20
8.75
38.98%
GB:MOON
Moonpig Group Plc
212.00
-8.51
-3.86%

Mothercare Corporate Events

Other
Mothercare Chairman and CFO Boost Stakes with Major Share Purchases
Positive
Dec 23, 2025

Mothercare plc has disclosed significant share purchases by senior leadership, with chairman Clive Whiley increasing his beneficial interest from 8 million to 50 million shares through the acquisition of 42 million shares via the Zodiac Executive Pension Scheme, and chief financial officer Andy Cook acquiring 5 million shares. The transactions, executed on 23 December 2025 at 1.0p per share on the London Stock Exchange, materially raise insider ownership in the company, a move that may be interpreted by investors as a signal of management confidence in Mothercare’s prospects and alignment of executives’ interests with those of shareholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:MTC) stock is a Hold with a £2.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Mothercare stock, see the GB:MTC Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and Financing
Mothercare Tightens Debt and Bets on Reliance and Ebebek to Rebuild Global Scale
Negative
Dec 23, 2025

Mothercare reported a sharp contraction in its interim performance for the 26 weeks to 27 September 2025, with worldwide franchise retail sales down 25% to £90.7 million, turnover nearly halved to £11.6 million and adjusted EBITDA falling to £0.8 million, leading to an adjusted operating loss of £0.5 million. The decline reflects store closures in the Middle East and its planned exit from Boots, but the group has materially reduced net debt to £5.8 million and is positioning itself as a smaller, cash-generative business. Chairman Clive Whiley highlighted significant progress on strategic partnerships, including a South Asian joint venture with Reliance Brands and a 10‑year licensing deal with Turkish specialist Ebebek, both designed to rebuild scale, expand store footprints and open new routes to market. With Reliance targeting rapid expansion and Ebebek bringing substantial buying and distribution power, Mothercare aims to use these alliances, alongside planned refinancing of its facilities, to reignite growth in global retail sales and restore its market presence following years of geopolitical and pandemic-related disruption.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:MTC) stock is a Hold with a £2.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Mothercare stock, see the GB:MTC Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyShareholder Meetings
Mothercare AGM: Resolutions Passed with Strong Shareholder Support
Positive
Nov 12, 2025

Mothercare held its Annual General Meeting on November 12, 2025, where all proposed resolutions were passed. The meeting saw a significant participation with proxy votes representing approximately 74% of the voting capital. Key resolutions included the approval of directors’ remuneration and policies, re-election of directors, appointment of RPGCC as the auditor, and authorization for share allotment and political donations. The successful passing of these resolutions indicates strong shareholder support and positions the company for continued strategic operations.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:MTC) stock is a Hold with a £2.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Mothercare stock, see the GB:MTC Stock Forecast page.

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.Date of analysis: Dec 25, 2025