James Cropper PLC (CRPR) fair value: what the stock is really worth
As of Nov 6, 2026: fair value (intrinsic value) of James Cropper PLC stock £5.17, price £7.83, that is 33.9% below the price, quality 69 out of 100. Rating: overvalued. Calculated from audited financials with 22 of our 26 valuation models and 37 quality factors, updated daily.
69 individual criteria per stock, every one traceableSee the method →
Price vs Fair Value
White line = price, green steps = our fair value per fiscal year. As of Nov 8, 2026.
How to read this chart
60‑month range £1.33 – £8.62 · fair‑value band £3.88 – £6.65 · the £7.83 price screens above the £5.17 fair value. Green steps = our fair value per fiscal year (point-in-time, no hindsight). As of Nov 8, 2026.
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James Cropper PLC manufactures and sells paper products and advanced materials. The company operates through James Cropper Paper & Packaging; James Cropper Advanced Materials; and Group Services and Eliminations segments.
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It engages in batteries, carbon capture, hydrogen fuel cells, wind energy, and hydrogen electrolysis related businesses. The company also offers stationery, packaging, and publishing papers; print paper, art, and digital paper; and moulded fibre packaging and packaging paper.
In addition, it provides composite materials for aerospace, advanced air mobility, automotive, batteries, consumer electronics, defence, marine, medical, and sporting material good sectors.
Further, the company manufactures paper converter, moulded fibre products, electrochemical materials, and metal coated carbon fibres. Additionally, it is involved in sales and marketing organization activities. James Cropper PLC was founded in 1845 and is headquartered in Kendal, the United Kingdom.
Stock analysis
James Cropper PLC (CRPR) currently trades at £7.83, while our model-based Fair Value estimate is £5.17, 34% below the price, so the stock looks overvalued today.
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Valuation
Bull case: the Growth DCF group reads highest at a median of £7.58 per share, and 3 of the 22 models we run sit above the £7.83 price.
Bear case: the Asset-Based group reads lowest at £1.52, and 19 of the 22 models stay below the price. Data coverage for this calculation is medium.
Scenario range: £3.88 (bear) to £6.65 (bull), the price of £7.83 sits above it. Bear and bull are the same models on cautious and optimistic assumptions, a range, not a price target.
Quality & growth
The Quality Score stands at 69/100 (solid quality), in the Basic Materials sector.
Weak Growth: Revenue growth is inconsistent: the periods point in different directions, so there is no trend to rely on.
James Cropper PLC reported revenue of £103M in FY2026 versus £105M in FY2022, a compound −0.5%/yr. Reported net income was £2.9M in FY2026, compounding +20.9%/yr from FY2022.
Key figures
Market cap £73.8M Micro · P/E ratio 25.8 · P/S ratio 0.72 · EPS (TTM) £0.3039 · Net margin 2.8% · Return on equity 13.0% · Return on assets (EBIT) 0.5% (5-year average) · Operating margin 5.7%.
Competitive moat
Our AI-assisted moat analysis scores the competitive advantage at 39 out of 100 (low confidence).
What moves the price
The share trades about 6% below its 52-week high and 213% above its 52-week low, currently above its 200-day average.
For context, the median of 10 Basic Materials peers we cover trades at 22% fair-value upside, at −34%, CRPR screens richer than that median.
Fair Value models
Bear£3.88Fair Value £5.17Bull£6.65
Price £7.83 · Downside -33.9%
Model ⓘEach model values the company its own way (discounted cash flow, earnings, assets, dividends). The fair value above starts from their evidence-weighted blend, not from a single model. In cyclical trough or peak years, after dilution or a stock split it is adjusted afterwards, so it can sit above or below the models. Based on fiscal year 2026 figures (about 7 months old). Earnings retained since then (£0.1894 per share) are deliberately not added.Bear ⓘBear = the cautious scenario: the same model computed with conservative anchors (lower growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bull it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target.BaseBull ⓘBull = the optimistic scenario: the same model computed with favourable anchors (higher growth, margins and valuation multiples). Together with Bear it frames a plausible valuation range, not a price target. If a model's bull case is above four times its base value, the table shows that limit with a > sign (like the overall Bull above): beyond it no assumption holds.Coverage ⓘCoverage = how well-backed THIS model's estimate is for this stock (0–100): how complete and reliable its input data are, and how well the model fits the company. The final Fair Value is an evidence-weighted blend, so better-evidenced models count more. Green ≥70, amber 50–69, grey below 50.
Growth Quality ⓘGrowth is valuable only when reinvestment earns attractive returns (Aswath Damodaran): sustainable growth depends on return on capital, reinvestment and efficiency. Basis: total company revenue over the periods shown on the cards (3Y/5Y/all years), not per share, so a merger can show up as a growth jump; per-share earnings growth is in the value-creation card.40/100
Revenue growth is inconsistent: the periods point in different directions, so there is no trend to rely on.
Revenue growth 1 year
+3.6%
Revenue growth 3 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
−7.4%
Revenue growth 5 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+5.5%
Start year 2021 (pandemic). Over 10 years: +1.5% a year
Revenue growth 40 years ⓘMeasures the company's TOTAL revenue from reported annual statements: compound average growth per year (CAGR) from the fiscal year 3, 5 or N years back to the most recent comparable fiscal year. Not per share: buybacks do not change this number, and a merger can appear as a growth jump. Per-share growth (which does include buybacks) is in the value-creation card.
+3.4%
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What shareholders gained per year (last 5 years) ⓘWhat the business itself delivers per year: earnings growth per share plus the dividend yield. This is what you get IF the market keeps valuing the stock the same way: it contains no assumption about the market changing its mind. Computed per share, so buybacks count and a merger does not pass as growth. For a company that pays no dividend it is pure earnings growth per share. Period: earnings growth per share as CAGR over the last 5 reported fiscal years (annual statements), plus the current dividend yield. The start value is the median of the three years around the start, so a single crisis year (a pandemic or a write-down) does not distort the rate.
≈ +13.4%
Earnings growth per share plus dividend.
Earnings per share, growth per year≈ +13.4%
Dividend (yield on the price)0.0%
Pace: 5 vs 10 years ⓘTwo data points, not a trend model: earnings growth per share over the last 5 fiscal years against the last 10. Labelled "steady" when both rates are within 3 percentage points of each other, otherwise picking up or flattening. Shown only when ten years of history exist.base effect: 13.4% / −0.3%
Profit margin 2021 to 2026 ⓘOperating margin then vs now, from reported annual statements. A falling margin after a boom year is the classic peak-earnings signal: the growth rate then leans on an inflated base.1% → 4%
⚠ Base effect: the rate starts in the earnings trough around 2021 (starting value 0.16 per share, median 0.37 in 2016 to 2019). It measures the recovery from the trough, not lasting growth.
Growth Forecast
Price in line with expectations
The price assumes about as much growth as the company has delivered so far.
What the price assumes ⓘThis turns our valuation around: instead of asking what the share is worth, it asks what growth the current price requires. It uses the cash the company keeps after all spending (free cash flow), the same discount rate as our models, five years of growth, then slowing evenly to 2 % a year by year ten. Compared with the analysts' sales forecasts extended to the same five years (at least three analysts, for context only, it does not enter the Fair Value): within 3 percentage points counts as "in line" (amber), below that little optimism (green), above that a lot of optimism (red).
+6.6%
Yearly growth needed for the next five years to justify today's price.
What forecasts expect
n/a
No analyst forecast available.
After inflation (UK: IMF forecast 2.3% a year to 2030, 3.3% from 2016 to 2025) that is about +4.2% a year for the price.
Price, fair value, quality and upside side by side.
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Peer GroupⓘHow this stock ranks against its industry: the green marker is this stock, the band is the typical 25–75% peer range, and the tick is the median.Paper & Paper Products · 116 stocks
Beats the industry median on 6/13 measures
A mixed picture versus its industry peers.
Valuation
Quality Score69 · Top 25%
Fair Value upside−33.9% · Below median
Profitability
Return on equity (12 months)13.0% · Top 25%
Return on assets3.8% · Above median
Net margin (12 months)2.8% · Above median
Operating margin (12 months)5.7% · Above median
Growth and dividend
Revenue growth (quarter YoY)3.5% · Below median
Balance sheet
Debt / equity0.45× · Above median
Valuation Multiplesvs Paper & Paper Products median · lower = cheaper
P/E (12 months)25.8× · Pricier than median
P/B3.03× · Priciest 25%
P/S (12 months)0.72× · Pricier than median
Price / free cash flow (fiscal year)12.8× · Cheaper than median
EV/EBITDA8.7× · Pricier than median
Strength profile in five axes (Snowflake)
This stockSector peers
VALUE (fair-value potential)0· sector 27
FUTURE (revenue growth)18· sector 31
PAST (return on equity)52· sector 14
HEALTH (low debt)78· sector 90
DIVIDEND (yield)0· sector 39
VALUE 0: the price sits above our fair-value range.
For bloggers, editors and developers: paste this into your site or blog (a “Custom HTML” block in WordPress), it shows the current fair value and links back here. Free, plain HTML, and welcome. Full data streams (CSV/JSON) at /developers.
Is James Cropper PLC (CRPR) overvalued or undervalued?
As of Nov 8, 2026, our model estimates a fair value of £5.17 versus a price of £7.83, about 34% lower (overvalued).
What is the fair value of CRPR?
Our model-based fair value for James Cropper PLC is £5.17 (as of Nov 8, 2026), built from audited fundamentals. The current price: £7.83.
What is the quality score of CRPR?
James Cropper PLC has a Quality Score of 69/100. It measures business quality (profitability, growth, cash flow, balance-sheet strength, investment discipline, share issuance). Market factors such as price momentum and volatility do not enter the number; they are shown separately in the detail view.
What is the price target for James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
Our model-based price target is the fair value of £5.17 (as of Nov 8, 2026) from 22 valuation models. Cautious scenario £3.88, optimistic scenario £6.65. It is a calculation from audited fundamentals, not an analyst target.
What is the James Cropper PLC stock forecast for 2026?
Our models put fair value at £5.17, about 34% lower versus a price of £7.83 (overvalued). Cautious scenario £3.88, optimistic scenario £6.65. The calculation is refreshed regularly with new filings.
What is the revenue of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
James Cropper PLC reported trailing-twelve-month revenue of about £103M (latest available figure, as of Nov 8, 2026).
What growth is priced into James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
For today's price to be fair in a discounted-cash-flow model, James Cropper PLC would have to grow free cash flow by +6.6 % per year for five years (discount rate 11.8 %, then slowing evenly to 2 % perpetual growth by year ten). Over the last 5 years revenue grew +5.5 % per year. As of Nov 8, 2026.
What discount rate (WACC) does the fair value of CRPR use?
Our models discount James Cropper PLC at 11.8 %: a base by market capitalisation (micro), damped by beta 0.45, country premium for United Kingdom. The same rate applies in all 26 models.
What is a reverse DCF?
A reverse DCF turns the usual calculation around. Instead of deriving a value from assumptions, it takes today's price as given and asks: what free-cash-flow growth would a company have to deliver for exactly this price to be fair? The result is not a forecast but the expectation already priced in. For James Cropper PLC that is +6.6 % per year for five years, then slowing evenly to 2 % by year ten, using the same discount rate (11.8 %) and the same formula as our fair value.
How much growth has James Cropper PLC (CRPR) delivered so far?
Over the past 5 years revenue at James Cropper PLC grew +5.5 % a year. The price currently implies free-cash-flow growth of +6.6 % per year. Comparing the two shows how much confidence is in the price: if it demands more than has been delivered, the business has to accelerate for the maths to work.
How fast is the sector of James Cropper PLC (CRPR) growing?
The median revenue growth in the sector is +9.8 % a year. That is the yardstick for the growth priced into James Cropper PLC (+6.6 % per year): it shows whether the expectation is within the usual range or beyond it.
What is the free cash flow yield of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
The free-cash-flow yield on the price is 7.84 %: that much free cash flow James Cropper PLC produces per unit of market value. When it exceeds the discount rate of our models (11.8 %), the business already earns more than its cost of capital demands, and the price needs little additional growth.
What is the intrinsic value of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
Intrinsic value and fair value mean the same thing: what the business is worth on its numbers, independent of the share price. For James Cropper PLC it is £5.17 per share (as of Nov 8, 2026), against a price of £7.83. It is the blended result of 22 valuation models in 7 families (DCF Models, Earnings-Based, Multiples, Asset-Based, Growth DCF, Economic Profit, Growth Earnings).
Is James Cropper PLC stock overvalued or undervalued in 2026?
As of Nov 8, 2026, CRPR trades above its calculated fair value: price £7.83, fair value £5.17, a gap of about −34% (overvalued). The calculation is refreshed with each new quarterly report, so the verdict can change during the year.
Is fair value the same as the market price of CRPR?
No. The price is what the market pays today (£7.83); the fair value is what the company's own numbers justify (£5.17). For James Cropper PLC the two are £2.66 per share apart. That gap is exactly why we show both numbers side by side.
How much is James Cropper PLC worth?
The market values James Cropper PLC at about £73.8M (market capitalisation, as of Nov 8, 2026). Per share that is £7.83; our models calculate a fair value of £5.17 per share.
What do the bullish and bearish scenarios say about CRPR?
Our models span a range for James Cropper PLC: cautious scenario £3.88, base £5.17, optimistic £6.65 per share (as of Nov 8, 2026, price £7.83). The range comes from different growth and margin assumptions, not from analyst opinions.
What is the P/E ratio of CRPR?
James Cropper PLC trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.8 (as of Nov 8, 2026). A P/E on its own says little: it compares the price with ONE year of profit, while our fair value of £5.17 is built from several models across several years. Other multiples: P/B 3.0, P/S 0.7, EV/EBITDA 8.7.
How solid is the balance sheet of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
Balance-sheet figures for James Cropper PLC (as of Nov 8, 2026): return on equity 13.0%, debt of 0.45 per unit of equity. They feed the Quality Score of 69/100, which measures business quality independently of the share price.
How far is CRPR from its 52-week high?
James Cropper PLC trades at £7.83, about 6% below its 52-week high of £8.30 and 213% above the low of £2.50 (as of Nov 6, 2026). Distance from the high says nothing about value: that is what the fair value of £5.17 is for.
Which stocks are comparable to James Cropper PLC?
From the same area (Basic Materials) we also value UPM-Kymmene Oyj, Suzano S.A, Shandong Sunpaper Co, Nine Dragons Paper (Holdings) Limited, among others. Each of them has its own fair-value calculation on this site using the same models, so the comparison is like for like.
Is James Cropper PLC stock attractive at the current price?
The data as of Nov 8, 2026: price £7.83, calculated fair value £5.17 (−34%), Quality Score 69/100, from 22 models. Whether that fits your horizon and risk tolerance is your call. We provide the calculation, not investment advice.
How is the fair value of CRPR calculated?
We run James Cropper PLC through 22 models from 7 families: DCF Models, Earnings-Based, Multiples, Asset-Based, Growth DCF, Economic Profit, Growth Earnings. Every model gets the same audited fundamentals; the fair value of £5.17 builds on their evidence-weighted average, with the spread shown as a cautious and an optimistic scenario.
Is it still worth investing in stocks now?
The global stock market currently sits 13.3% above its aggregate fair value. James Cropper PLC itself currently trades above fair value. An expensive market is no reason to stay out and no reason to buy everything at once: keep a broad savings plan running, buy single stocks only with money you can do without, and hold part of your money liquid while the market is high. The full picture including sectors is on is it worth investing now.
What is the share price of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
The closing price on Nov 6, 2026 was £7.83. Our model-based fair value is £5.17, about 34% lower (overvalued). We carry closing prices from our data provider, not a live tick.
What should I pay attention to with James Cropper PLC right now?
The price sits above even our optimistic bull case (£6.65). The favourable scenario is already priced in. Solid but not exceptional quality (69/100) and above fair value, neither a clear bargain nor a standout compounder.
Key figures of James Cropper PLC
How large is the market capitalisation of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
The market capitalisation of James Cropper PLC is £73.8M. The stock-market value of the whole company: share price times number of shares. It is what the market asks for the entire business today.
What is the P/S ratio of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
The price-to-sales ratio of James Cropper PLC is 0.72 (last twelve months). Price to sales: market value relative to yearly revenue. Useful when profit is thin or distorted.
What are the earnings per share of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
Earnings per share at James Cropper PLC are £0.3039 (price ÷ EPS = P/E 25.8). Earnings per share over the last twelve months: total profit spread across every single share.
What is the net margin of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
The net margin of James Cropper PLC is 2.8% (last twelve months). How much of every unit of revenue ends up as profit. 10% means 10 cents of profit per dollar of sales.
What is the return on equity of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
The return on equity (ROE) of James Cropper PLC is 13.0% (last twelve months). Profit relative to shareholders' equity, how efficiently the company works with its owners' money.
What is the EBIT return on assets of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
On an EBIT basis the return on assets of James Cropper PLC is 0.5% (avg 5y). Operating profit (EBIT) relative to everything the company owns, as a multi-year average. It describes the business model rather than one good or bad year.
What is the operating margin of James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
The operating margin of James Cropper PLC is 5.7% (last twelve months). Profit from the core business (before interest and taxes) relative to revenue.
How fast is revenue growing at James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
Revenue at James Cropper PLC is growing +3.5% versus a year earlier (3y avg −7.4%). How much revenue grew versus a year earlier (YoY). The 3-year average next to it puts the single year in context.
How fast are earnings growing at James Cropper PLC (CRPR)?
Earnings per share at James Cropper PLC are growing −50.7% versus a year earlier. How much earnings per share grew versus a year earlier.
How much net debt does James Cropper PLC (CRPR) carry?
The net debt of James Cropper PLC is £8.1M (fiscal year 2026, ≈ 1.4 yrs of FCF). Debt minus cash on hand. The note shows how many years of free cash flow could in theory pay it off.
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Some data
Nov 8, 2026