SMWH - Ticker AI Digest

WH Smith PLC 📰 2
600.00 | Today -4.53%
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WH Smith PLC in one cleaner mobile flow.
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SMWH Data 2026-04-23 Preview Mode
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Digested News

Today's Catalysts (SMWH) 2
SMWH 06:02
WH Smith PLC
Board changes
SMWH 06:01
WH Smith PLC
Interim Results Announcement
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
WH Smith PLCs interim results for the period ended 28 February 2026 show a solid first-half trading performance with total group revenue up 5% to £748 million. The UK business saw a 2% increase, North America a 10% increase, and the Rest of the World and Other division an 8% increase. However, headline group profit before tax and non-underlying items decreased to £3 million from £21 million in the previous year. The company has suspended its dividend to reduce debt and strengthen its financial position, and it expects to deliver a headline group profit before tax and non-underlying items of £90-£105 million for the full year 2026, taking a cautious outlook due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Here is the comparison of WH Smith PLC's financials and debt year on year, presented as an HTML table:
MetricFeb 2026Feb 2025Change
Total Group Revenue (£m)748716+5%
Headline Group Profit Before Tax (£m)321-86%
Headline Diluted EPS (p)(0.8)11.5N/A
Headline Net Debt (£m)496390+27%
Leverage (x)2.92.1+38%
Free Cash Flow (£m)(61)(72)+15%
Return on Capital Employed (%)1618-11%
**Key Observations:** - **Revenue Growth:** Total Group revenue increased by 5% to £748m, driven by growth in all segments: UK (+2%), North America (+10%), and Rest of the World (+8%). - **Profit Decline:** Headline Group profit before tax decreased significantly from £21m to £3m, primarily due to increased costs and inflationary pressures. - **Debt Increase:** Headline net debt rose by 27% to £496m, and leverage increased from 2.1x to 2.9x, reflecting higher debt levels relative to earnings. - **Cash Flow Improvement:** Free cash flow improved by 15%, from -£72m to -£61m, despite ongoing investment in new stores and transformation costs. - **Return on Capital Employed (ROCE):** ROCE declined from 18% to 16%, indicating a decrease in the efficiency of capital utilization. This table provides a concise comparison of key financial metrics, highlighting areas of growth, decline, and stability year on year.
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Results 1
SMWH 06:01
WH Smith PLC
Interim Results Announcement
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
WH Smith PLCs interim results for the period ended 28 February 2026 show a solid first-half trading performance with total group revenue up 5% to £748 million. The UK business saw a 2% increase, North America a 10% increase, and the Rest of the World and Other division an 8% increase. However, headline group profit before tax and non-underlying items decreased to £3 million from £21 million in the previous year. The company has suspended its dividend to reduce debt and strengthen its financial position, and it expects to deliver a headline group profit before tax and non-underlying items of £90-£105 million for the full year 2026, taking a cautious outlook due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Here is the comparison of WH Smith PLC's financials and debt year on year, presented as an HTML table:
MetricFeb 2026Feb 2025Change
Total Group Revenue (£m)748716+5%
Headline Group Profit Before Tax (£m)321-86%
Headline Diluted EPS (p)(0.8)11.5N/A
Headline Net Debt (£m)496390+27%
Leverage (x)2.92.1+38%
Free Cash Flow (£m)(61)(72)+15%
Return on Capital Employed (%)1618-11%
**Key Observations:** - **Revenue Growth:** Total Group revenue increased by 5% to £748m, driven by growth in all segments: UK (+2%), North America (+10%), and Rest of the World (+8%). - **Profit Decline:** Headline Group profit before tax decreased significantly from £21m to £3m, primarily due to increased costs and inflationary pressures. - **Debt Increase:** Headline net debt rose by 27% to £496m, and leverage increased from 2.1x to 2.9x, reflecting higher debt levels relative to earnings. - **Cash Flow Improvement:** Free cash flow improved by 15%, from -£72m to -£61m, despite ongoing investment in new stores and transformation costs. - **Return on Capital Employed (ROCE):** ROCE declined from 18% to 16%, indicating a decrease in the efficiency of capital utilization. This table provides a concise comparison of key financial metrics, highlighting areas of growth, decline, and stability year on year.
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TR1 5
SMWH 10:07
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
<mark style="background-coloryellow">TR1</mark> Buy
SMWH 11:52
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
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TR1 Buy
SMWH 06:17
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
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TR1 Buy
SMWH 17:04
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
TR1 Buy
SMWH 09:12
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
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TR1 Buy
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All Market News (Last 30 Days) 9
SMWH 06:02
WH Smith PLC
Board changes
SMWH 06:01
WH Smith PLC
Interim Results Announcement
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
WH Smith PLCs interim results for the period ended 28 February 2026 show a solid first-half trading performance with total group revenue up 5% to £748 million. The UK business saw a 2% increase, North America a 10% increase, and the Rest of the World and Other division an 8% increase. However, headline group profit before tax and non-underlying items decreased to £3 million from £21 million in the previous year. The company has suspended its dividend to reduce debt and strengthen its financial position, and it expects to deliver a headline group profit before tax and non-underlying items of £90-£105 million for the full year 2026, taking a cautious outlook due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Here is the comparison of WH Smith PLC's financials and debt year on year, presented as an HTML table:
MetricFeb 2026Feb 2025Change
Total Group Revenue (£m)748716+5%
Headline Group Profit Before Tax (£m)321-86%
Headline Diluted EPS (p)(0.8)11.5N/A
Headline Net Debt (£m)496390+27%
Leverage (x)2.92.1+38%
Free Cash Flow (£m)(61)(72)+15%
Return on Capital Employed (%)1618-11%
**Key Observations:** - **Revenue Growth:** Total Group revenue increased by 5% to £748m, driven by growth in all segments: UK (+2%), North America (+10%), and Rest of the World (+8%). - **Profit Decline:** Headline Group profit before tax decreased significantly from £21m to £3m, primarily due to increased costs and inflationary pressures. - **Debt Increase:** Headline net debt rose by 27% to £496m, and leverage increased from 2.1x to 2.9x, reflecting higher debt levels relative to earnings. - **Cash Flow Improvement:** Free cash flow improved by 15%, from -£72m to -£61m, despite ongoing investment in new stores and transformation costs. - **Return on Capital Employed (ROCE):** ROCE declined from 18% to 16%, indicating a decrease in the efficiency of capital utilization. This table provides a concise comparison of key financial metrics, highlighting areas of growth, decline, and stability year on year.
SMWH 10:07
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
<mark style="background-coloryellow">TR1</mark> Buy
SMWH 11:52
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
TR1 Buy
SMWH 06:17
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
TR1 Buy
SMWH 17:04
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
TR1 Buy
SMWH 09:12
WH Smith PLC
Holding(s) in Company
AI Expand: Explanation + Tables
Return to today’s catalyst cards, chart beacons and AI charts.
TR1 Buy
SMWH 06:01
WH Smith PLC
Directorate change
SMWH 11:51
WH Smith PLC
Total Voting Rights

Today's AI

Today's AI Starts With News

2 live catalysts is opening Today’s AI for SMWH.

Start with the live headline tape first. Today’s AI findings sit next, and the AI Blend stack drops lower once the news context is framed. Financial Forecastist now feeds the blend too.
Live Tape Data 2026-04-23 Blend Lower Down
Read the alert tape first, then open Today’s AI findings. Use AI Expand on any card to open the AI explanation, results tables and financial forecast rows instantly.
2 Today
Front Of Desk
WH Smith PLC has fresh news flow live now, so Today’s AI is leading with the tape before the blended signal stack below.
06:02 Today's Catalyst Board changes
Single-Ticker Today's AI
SMWH signal theatre built from scored market catalysts, automated AI forecasts, financial forecasting and live trigger logic.

This is the ticker-specific Today’s AI desk for WH Smith PLC. It compresses the live catalyst tape, bullish and bearish scoring, AI price forecasts, financial forecasting and trigger logic into one cockpit so users can judge conviction without hopping across screens.

Subscription Required Bullish vs Bearish Scoring AI + Financial Blend Buy / Sell Trigger Engine Today's AI Findings
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Fundamentals Matrix

Overall Fundamentals
Signal: Pending
Capital Strength
Signal: Pending
Float Liquidity
Signal: Pending
Short Pressure
Signal: Pending
Target Setup
Signal: Pending
Market Profile
Signal: Pending
Market Cap
783.7M
Enterprise Value
2.7B
Public Float
97.9
Broker Target
696.167
Shares Out
124.7M
Long Interest
80
Short Interest
20
Exchange
LSE
Currency Code
GBX
ISIN
GB00B2PDGW16
Market
LSE - MAIN MARKET
Sector
Retailers
Float / Shares Ratio
-
Short vs Long Delta
-
EV / Market Cap
-

Financials Matrix

News And Alerts First

2 live alerts now opens the financials desk for SMWH.

Start with the headline flow and alert tape first. Then drop straight into Financial Forecastist below for the revenue path, EPS shape, cash pressure and balance-sheet read while the catalyst context is still hot.
Live Alerts Data 2026-04-23 Forecastist Below
Read the alert tape first, then move into Financial Forecastist below. Use AI Expand on any catalyst card to open the AI explanation and results tables without losing the ticker context.
2 Alerts
Front Of Desk
WH Smith PLC has fresh filing flow live now, so the tape is framing the revenue, leverage and valuation story below.
06:02 Today's Alert Board changes
Overall Stability
Signal: Pending
Profitability
Signal: Pending
Debt & Cash
Signal: Pending
Valuation Risk
Signal: Pending
Forward Expectation
Signal: Pending
Dividend Safety
Signal: Pending
Divi Rate
0.17
Ex Divi
2026-01-22
Earnings Date
2026-04-23
Net Debt
1.3B
Cash
71.0M
EPS
-0.24
Net Income
-144.0M
Revenue
1.6B
Enterprise Value
2.7B
Trailing PE
-
Forward PE
12.0048
Price Sales TTM
0.5046
Price Book MRQ
5.043
EV Revenue
1.0759
EV EBITDA
9.1802
Financial Forecastist

Worsening financial engine

Revenue is slipping -35.5% against the prior comparable period. Net margin is compressing by 21.8 pts. Net debt is building +39.9%.

Revenue -35.5% Net Income -314.9% FCF +16.7% Current Ratio 0.39x Forward Rev 0
Worsening
Quarter Revenue
602.0M
-35.5%
vs prior comparable quarter
Net Margin
-16.8%
-21.8 pts
profitability pulse
Free Cash Flow
161.0M
+16.7%
cash conversion
Net Debt / EBITDA
11.9x
+39.9%
lower is cleaner
Revenue Engine

Latest quarter printed 602.0M with the top line cooling off against the last comparable period.

Profit Stack

Net income landed at -101.0M and the margin profile is tightening. That usually tells us whether operating leverage is finally kicking in.

Balance-Sheet Pressure

Cash sits near 71.0M while net debt is 1.3B. The leverage stack is moving the wrong way.

Quarterly Revenue Runway

Actual revenue bars, consensus revenue where available, plus the terminal model path.

Profit And Cash Conversion

Net income and free cash flow moving together is usually what separates genuine improvement from noise.

Balance-Sheet Pressure

Cash, net debt and liquidity tell us whether the business is strengthening or just surviving.

Annual Power Curve

Longer-cycle revenue and net income help frame whether the company is compounding or rolling over.
Q1 2024
Consensus
0
Revenue Path
0.00
EPS / Earnings
Growth cue -
Q2 2024
Consensus
0
Revenue Path
0.00
EPS / Earnings
Growth cue -
Q4 2024
Consensus
0
Revenue Path
0.00
EPS / Earnings
Growth cue -
Q1 2025
Consensus
0
Revenue Path
0.00
EPS / Earnings
Growth cue -
FY 2026
Consensus
1.6B
Revenue Path
0.55
EPS / Earnings
Growth cue +0.4%
FY 2027
Consensus
1.7B
Revenue Path
0.61
EPS / Earnings
Growth cue +0.1%

Quarterly Statement Tape

Last 6 Quarters
Period Revenue Net Income FCF Net Debt
Q3 2025 602.0M -101.0M 161.0M 1.3B
Q1 2025 951.0M -43.0M 38.0M 1.1B
Q3 2024 992.0M 50.0M 156.0M 997.0M
Q1 2024 926.0M 17.0M 4.0M 1.0B
Q3 2023 934.0M 47.0M 138.0M 935.0M
Q1 2023 859.0M 32.0M -9.0M 1.0B

Annual Financial Power

Last 5 Years
Period Revenue Net Income EBITDA FCF
FY 2025 1.6B -144.0M 183.0M 199.0M
FY 2024 1.9B 67.0M 334.0M 144.0M
FY 2023 1.8B 79.0M 316.0M 129.0M
FY 2022 1.4B 47.0M 228.0M 104.0M
FY 2021 886.0M -82.0M 42.0M 56.0M

Structure DNA

Market Structure DNA

Stress Coil profile with trend mixed

Price is 22.5% through the 52-week range, +6.6% vs 50DMA and -7.9% vs 200DMA. 91.5% of the register is locked by institutions and insiders, leaving 8.5% free float. Capital rhythm reads semi-annual with forward yield near 2.6% and payout around 7.5%.

Trend mixed Institutional gravity Moderate income rhythm As Of 2026-04-19
Stress Coil
Structure Score
63.8 / 100
Stress Coil
Trend Stack
+6.6% / -7.9%
vs 50DMA / 200DMA
52W Position
22.5%
auction position inside the yearly range
Ownership Lock
91.5%
89.5% institutions | 2.0% insiders
Pressure Pocket
10.1% short float
Short ratio 0.0x | monthly -
Capital Rhythm
Semi-Annual
Yield 2.6% | payout 7.5%
Trend Runway

Implied spot is 652.00 with the stock +6.6% vs 50DMA and -7.9% vs 200DMA. The tape is sitting 22.5% through the 52-week range, which frames the regime as trend mixed.

Ownership Register

Institutions hold about 89.5% and insiders about 2.0%, locking roughly 91.5% of the register and leaving 8.5% in free float. That reads as institutional gravity.

Pressure Pocket

Short pressure is running near 10.1% of float with short ratio 0.0x and monthly change -. That gives us a read on whether the tape is clean, crowded, or coiled.

Capital Rhythm

Dividend cadence reads semi-annual with 2 event(s) in the last full year, a five-year average of 1.8, and stability score 80.0/100. Forward yield sits near 2.6% while payout is around 7.5%.

Structure Score

One-glance gauge for the current market-structure regime.

Pillar Radar

Trend, ownership, pressure, and capital rhythm mapped on one wheel.

Position And Float Balance

Shows whether the stock is extended, tightly held, or carrying capital-return support.

Dividend Cadence Tape

Historical dividend-event counts help reveal how dependable the income rhythm has been.

Dividend Cadence Ledger

Semi-Annual
Year Dividend Count Context
2026 1 Current partial year
2025 2 Full year
2024 2 Full year
2023 2 Full year
2020 1 Full year
2019 2 Full year
2018 2 Full year
2017 2 Full year

Structure Facts

Live Snapshot
Implied Spot
652.00
derived from market cap / shares
52W High
1,110.34
upper auction edge
52W Low
519.00
lower auction edge
Beta
1.00
volatility character
Shares Out
124.7M
fully diluted count
Shares Float
122.1M
tradable register
Shares Short
0
borrowed stock
Short Ratio
0.0x
days-to-cover style read
Ex-Dividend
2026-01-22
-87 day(s) to ex-date
Dividend Pay
-
payment date not supplied
Last Split
67:74
2008-02-22

Capital Radar

Capital Regime
—
Building signal blend...
Smart Money Tilt
—
Public vs institutions
Target Conviction
—
Broker coverage pulse
Insider Pressure
—
Director + TR1 flow
Last Held Position
-
Public Hands
-
Institutions
62.5919
Institutions As Of
2026-04-16
Avg Broker Target
817.5769
Upside Vs Price
36.26%
Purchase Director Dealing
6
Sale Director Dealing
0
Purchase TR1
22
Sale TR1
14
Broker Coverage Rows
26
Institution Holders Tracked
10
Public Vs Institutional Ownership (3D)
Top Institution Holders (Latest Per Holder)
Director Dealing Sentiment Flow
Broker Target Bias
Signal: Pending
Capital Momentum Matrix
Broker Targets Vs Price
Aggregated Institution Weight By Holder

Short Data - Last 30 Days

Nexus Pulse Engine

Overall Buy/Sell/Hold
Signal: Pending
Technical Composite
Signal: Pending
Financial Composite
Signal: Pending
Fundamental Composite
Signal: Pending
Short Pressure
Signal: Pending
Momentum Bias
Signal: Pending

Volatility Lab

ATR(14)
Realized Vol (20d)
Volume Spike Z

AI Charts

News And Alerts First

The alert tape opens the door for SMWH, and AI Charts sits just below.

Start with the headline flow and live catalyst tape first. Then move straight into AI Charts below for price reaction, AI targets, chart structure and catalyst beacons while the news context is still hot.
Live Tape Data 2026-04-23 AI Charts Below
Read the alert tape first, then move into AI Charts below. Use AI Expand on any catalyst card to open the AI explanation and results tables instantly.
2 Today
Catalyst Pulse
WH Smith PLC has fresh news flow live now, so the tape is framing the chart workspace below.
06:02 Today's Catalyst Board changes
AI Charts Studio
SMWH Price History
Live structure, automated forecasts, technical overlays and catalyst beacons in one chart workspace.
30 Day View Window 30D Data 2026-04-23 Open Preview Studio Brief
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Automated signalling scans momentum shifts, crossovers and volatility breaks in real time. Automated AI forecasts map best, average and worst simulation paths forward, predictive MACD extends the momentum story, and catalyst beacons pin market-moving headlines directly onto price action so users can connect news, signals and structure without leaving the chart.

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