Business Snapshot
- Revenue TrendDecelerating
- Profitability TrendImproving
- Balance Sheet StrengthStrong
- Cash GenerationWeak
Educational tool only – Scores are based on historical data and financial metrics for informational purposes. This is not financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Always conduct your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser.
Watkin Jones Plc engages in the development and the management of properties for residential occupation in the United Kingdom. The company operates through Student Accommodation, Build to Rent, Affordable Homes, Refresh, and Accommodation Management segments. The company is listed on the LSE in UK, operating in the Consumer Cyclical sector, with a market capitalisation of 82.90M.
The scoring profile indicates weak reward characteristics across most factors, including valuation and momentum. Risk indicators are elevated — volatility and macro sensitivity warrant consideration.
For informational purposes only. Not financial advice.
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Mixed ownership structure with varying levels of insider, institutional, and public participation.
Insiders own 6.9%, which is a moderate level of management ownership.
Institutions own 59.6%, which suggests a balanced ownership mix.
Public float is 33.4%, which points to a fairly balanced ownership structure.
Our reward rating analyses WJG's potential upside using 5 weighted factors. Each factor is scored 0-100, then combined using the weights shown below.
Growth measures the company's ability to expand its business over time through revenue, earnings, and cash flow generation.
WJG scored 42/100 for growth — blending a 3-year historical track record (60%) with analyst forward estimates (40%). Historical revenue has been declining (-11.7% CAGR), a headwind. Forward: analysts forecast 18.0% revenue growth next year, EPS expected to grow 107.1%. Growth is modest — the company needs to accelerate expansion to drive higher returns.
Momentum is assessed relative to the FTSE 100 benchmark where available. Relative outperformance is a stronger signal than absolute return alone.
Insufficient price history to assess momentum. Score defaulted to neutral (50).
Profitability examines both the current margin level and margin expansion trends. High and expanding margins indicate pricing power and operational efficiency.
WJG scores 9/100 for profitability, assessed sector-relative on margins and via absolute thresholds for capital efficiency. Gross margin of 6.9% is 85% below the sector average of 45% — suggesting below-average pricing power or higher input costs vs peers. The company is currently loss-making with a net margin of -3.0%. FCF conversion of 0% is low — reported earnings may overstate true cash generation. Weak profitability across multiple metrics is a clear area of concern for investors.
Valuation is scored sector-relative — each metric is compared against the typical multiple for this industry, so a high P/E in Healthcare is judged differently to a high P/E in Energy. PEG and Price/FCF use absolute thresholds.
WJG received a valuation score of 52/100 using sector-relative scoring. Its Forward P/E of 18.1x is 1% above the sector average of 18x. EV/EBITDA of 17.9x sits 49% above the sector norm of 12x. The company holds net cash, providing balance sheet flexibility. Overall the stock trades broadly in line with sector norms.
Educational Tool Only
The reward rating and analysis shown above are based on historical financial data and quantitative metrics, provided for informational and educational purposes only. This is not financial advice and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.
Our risk rating assesses WJG's downside potential using 4 weighted factors. Each factor is scored 0-100 (higher = riskier), then combined using the weights shown below.
Financial Solvency measures the company's ability to service and repay its debt obligations. Five sub-metrics are weighted to produce the composite score.
WJG has a financial solvency risk score of 34/100. This shows low leverage risk and a healthy balance sheet. Interest coverage of -1.0x means earnings comfortably exceed debt service. Current ratio of 2.06x confirms strong short-term liquidity. The company has flexibility to invest, return capital, or absorb unexpected shocks.
Operational Quality measures bottom-line efficiency, cash generation, capital productivity, and margin consistency — four equally weighted signals of business model resilience.
WJG scores 79/100 for operational quality, indicating high operational risk. Key concerns: a negative net margin of -3.0% — the company is loss-making; negative FCF (-5.1% FCF margin) — the business is cash burning; weak capital efficiency with -4.5% Cash ROA; moderate margin variance of ±5.9pp over 3 years. These weaknesses make the business vulnerable to cost shocks or revenue shortfalls. Monitor profitability trends closely.
Volatility measures price instability, worst-case drawdowns, and sensitivity to broader market moves.
WJG has a volatility risk score of 65/100. This represents moderate-to-elevated volatility — above average but manageable. Beta of 1.38 means it amplifies broad market moves. Investors should expect periodic double-digit declines but can ride them out with patience.
Size factor captures existential risk. Smaller companies have higher failure rates, less diversification, and greater vulnerability to shocks.
WJG has a market cap of £0.1B (Nano Cap), resulting in a size risk score of 80/100. As a smaller company, it faces elevated existential risk. Small and micro-caps have higher failure rates, less diversified revenue, and greater vulnerability to competitive threats or economic shocks. They often lack scale advantages and may struggle to access capital markets during stress. While these companies offer growth potential, investors must accept that a meaningful percentage could fail or suffer permanent capital loss. Diversification is critical when investing at this size.
Educational Tool Only
The risk rating and analysis shown above are based on historical financial data and quantitative metrics, provided for informational and educational purposes only. This is not financial advice and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.
Forward-looking estimates from the analyst community for WJG.
Reported revenue for the last 5 years, followed by low, consensus, and high analyst revenue estimates for the next two years. Consensus revenue implies +17.0% YoY growth tight ranges on revenue estimates
Low, consensus, and high analyst EPS estimates for the next two fiscal years. Consensus EPS implies +106.4% YoY growth wide dispersion on EPS estimates