19 October 2026

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Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC (ASL)

Rank #235 of 280 - Financials - UK Equities

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Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC

ASL.L·Financials·Market Cap £1.4b

Rank #235 of 280

Quantitative Model · 280 Stocks Analysed

£18.26

+16.83% YTD

52W: £14.08 - £18.35

Factor Analysis Summary

Editorial assessment generated from Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC's live factor scores and sector positioning.

Based on Strategyland's proprietary 7-factor analysis, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC (ASL.L) currently holds an overall rank of #235 out of 280 FTSE 100 constituents, reflecting its weighted composite score across liquidity, valuation, profitability, solvency, asset efficiency, market trading, and technical dimensions.

Key strengths include market trading, where it demonstrates strong market trading characteristics with favourable volume trends and institutional participation; profitability (ROE 6.9%, net margin 83.4%), where it demonstrates strong profitability metrics, ranking in the top quartile for earnings quality and return on capital; and technical (RSI 73.5), where it demonstrates positive technical momentum with price action supporting a constructive trend.

Areas requiring attention include liquidity, where thin trading volumes could increase transaction costs and slippage, as well as asset efficiency, where poor capital efficiency suggests assets may be underutilised or overvalued on the balance sheet.

Within the Financials sector, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC sits at composite rank #235, trailing the Financials peer average (rank 8). It ranks behind all 6 tracked Financials peers in our model.

Despite its mid-table composite rank of #235, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC shows selective strength — notably in market trading and profitability — suggesting a stock with identifiable merits alongside clear areas for improvement.

Strongest Factors

Market Trading — Rank 1/280 (top quartile)
Profitability — Rank 26/280 (top quartile)
Technical — Rank 28/280 (top quartile)

Weakest Factors

Liquidity — Rank 257/280 (below average)
Asset Efficiency — Rank 197/280 (below average)

Score Analysis

Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC is ranked #235 out of 280 UK stocks. Lower factor scores indicate better performance in that category.

Factor Breakdown

92/280

Average Score

Liquidity

Weak257/280

Valuation

Good86/280

Profitability

Excellent26/280

Solvency

Excellent46/280

Asset Efficiency

Weak197/280

Mkt Trading

Excellent1/280

Technical

Excellent28/280

1. Liquidity

Score: 257/280

How liquid is ASL and can it meet its short-term obligations?

0/6

liquidity criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

Quick Ratio

N/A

Range: N/A

–

Current Ratio

N/A

0.12xRank 244/280

Range: N/ARank 244/280

–

TTM Operating Cash Flow

N/A

1.08xRank 47/280

Range: N/ARank 47/280

–

Liquidity Coverage Ratio

100-150

N/A

Range: 100-150

–

Intangible Asset Ratio

10 - 30

N/ARank 193/280

Range: 10 - 30Rank 193/280

–

Cash-to-Debt Ratio

N/A

0.07xRank 213/280

Range: N/ARank 213/280

Key Liquidity Metrics

Quick Ratio

N/A

Sector: N/A

Current Ratio

0.12x

Sector: N/A

Overall Liquidity Rank

Rank within universe#257/280

Best (1)Worst (280)

2. Valuation

Score: 86/280

Is ASL undervalued compared to its peers and fair value metrics?

3/7

valuation criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

FY27e P/E

8x - 18x

N/A

Range: 8x - 18x

–

FY26e P/E

8x - 18x

N/A

Range: 8x - 18x

–

FY27e Net Div Yld (%)

3.0 - 8.0

N/A

Range: 3.0 - 8.0

✓

Div Payout Ratio

30 - 55

49.79%Rank 100/280

Range: 30 - 55Rank 100/280

–

Current EV/EBITDA

N/A

13.1xRank 205/280

Range: N/ARank 205/280

✓

Current P/TBV

0.8x - 2.0x

0.90xRank 40/280

Range: 0.8x - 2.0xRank 40/280

✓

Current P/B

0.8x - 2.0x

0.90xRank 49/280

Range: 0.8x - 2.0xRank 49/280

Key Valuation Metrics

TTM P/E

Price-to-Earnings

15.8x

FY26e P/E

Forward estimate

N/A

FY27e P/E

Forward estimate

N/A

Current P/B

Price-to-Book

0.90x

Current P/TBV

Tangible Book Value

0.90x

Current EV/EBITDA

Enterprise Value

13.1x

FY26e EV/EBITDA

Forward estimate

N/A

FY27e EV/EBITDA

Forward estimate

N/A

Dividend

ASL pays a dividend yield of 2.87%.

Current Yield

2.87%

FY27e Net Div Yield

N/A

FY26e Gross DPS

N/A

FY27e Gross DPS

N/A

3. Profitability

Score: 26/280

How profitable is ASL relative to its peers?

0/7

profitability criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

✗

TTM Profit Margin

15 - 30

83.4%Rank 51/280

Range: 15 - 30Rank 51/280

–

T12 FCF Margin

N/A

0.5%Rank 96/280

Range: N/ARank 96/280

–

FY27e RoE

10 - 16

N/A

Range: 10 - 16

–

FY26 EPS Growth

8 - 15

N/A

Range: 8 - 15

–

FY27e EPS Growth

6 - 12

N/A

Range: 6 - 12

–

NIM

1.5 - 3.2

N/A

Range: 1.5 - 3.2

–

Expense Ratio

50 - 65

N/A

Range: 50 - 65

TTM Profit Margin

83.4%

Current RoCE

6.9%

FY27e RoE

N/A

T12 FCF Margin

0.5%

4. Solvency

Score: 46/280

How strong is ASL's balance sheet and financial position?

0/6

solvency criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

✗

Debt/Eqt

0.5x - 1.5x

0.05xRank 41/280

Range: 0.5x - 1.5xRank 41/280

–

Interest Coverage Ratio

N/A

Rank 77Rank 77/280

Range: N/ARank 77/280

–

Net Leverage Ratio

N/A

Range: N/A

–

Altman Z-Score (Manufacturing)

N/A

20.63Rank 40/280

Range: N/ARank 40/280

–

Z-Score (Non Manufacturing)

N/A

Rank 41Rank 41/280

Range: N/ARank 41/280

–

CapAdeq Ratio Tier1

13 - 18

N/A

Range: 13 - 18

Key Solvency Metrics

Debt/Eqt

0.05x

Net Leverage Ratio

N/A

Interest Coverage

Rank 77

T12 FCF Margin

0.5%

Altman Z-Score

20.63

Safe Zone

01.812.995+

5. Asset Efficiency

Score: 197/280

How efficiently does ASL deploy its assets and intellectual capital?

0/5

asset efficiency criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

Efficiency Ratio

50 - 70

N/A

Range: 50 - 70

–

TTM Asset Turnover Ratio

N/A

0.07xRank 232/280

Range: N/ARank 232/280

–

TTM CAPEX/Sales

1 - 3

N/A

Range: 1 - 3

–

Working Capital Turnover

N/A

Range: N/A

–

R&D/Sales FY27e

N/A

Range: N/A

Overall Asset Efficiency Rank

Rank within sector peers#197/280

Best (1)Worst (280)

6. Market Trading

Score: 1/280

How liquid and actively traded is ASL?

1/2

market trading criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

Intraday Sentiment (%)

40 - 75

N/A

Range: 40 - 75

–

10D-Avg v/s 3M-Avg Vol

N/A

82%Rank 50/280

Range: N/ARank 50/280

✓

Avg Directional Index 30D

012 - 45

31.0Rank 25/280

Range: 012 - 45Rank 25/280

–

Parabolic SAR

N/A

1812.19Rank 60/280

Range: N/ARank 60/280

–

Stock Rating Rank

N/A

Range: N/A

Market Cap

£1,381,179,187

Enterprise Value

£1,465,985,187

Trading Volume

7. Technical

Score: 28/280

What do the technical indicators say about ASL?

0/5

technical criteria met

Metric

Chart

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

CMP v/s 52-WH

£18.35£14.08

-0.5%CMP: £18.26

N/A

-0.5%Rank 6/280

£18.35£14.08

-0.5%CMP: £18.26

Range: N/ARank 6/280

–

CMP v/s 52-WL

£18.35£14.08

+29.7%CMP: £18.26

N/A

29.7%Rank 160/280

£18.35£14.08

+29.7%CMP: £18.26

Range: N/ARank 160/280

–

RSI 14D

073.5 - Overbought100

N/A

73.5Rank 25/280

073.5 - Overbought100

Range: N/ARank 25/280

–

MA50 - MA200

£16.44+1.09£17.54

N/A

BullishRank 43/280

£16.44+1.09£17.54

Range: N/ARank 43/280

–

MACD Rank

Golden Cross

MACD: 4.24

N/A

4.24Rank 100/280

Golden Cross

MACD: 4.24

Range: N/ARank 100/280

RSI (14 Day)

73.5

Overbought

0 (Oversold)50100 (Overbought)

Moving Averages

50 SMA£17.54

200 SMA£16.44

SignalGolden Cross (Bullish)

MACD4.24

Risk Metrics

Beta

N/A

3-Yr Std Dev

N/A

5-Yr Std Dev

N/A

Peer Comparison

How does ASL compare to other Financials stocks?

Overall Rank Comparison

Factor Score Comparison

Stock	Rank	Liquidity	Valuation	Profitability	Solvency	Mkt Trading	Technical
ASL	#235	257	86	26	46	1	28
MUT.L	#3	128	38	24	56	27	8
RTW.L	#5	116	7	9	145	69	229
BPCR.L	#7	163	34	56	9	112	76
RCP.L	#9	179	26	22	59	13	2
AGT.L	#11	108	57	55	72	90	79
TBCG.L	#14	29	55	38	257	129	18

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Methodology Note

The analysis presented for Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC is produced using Strategyland's proprietary 7-factor quantitative model, which evaluates each stock across Liquidity, Valuation, Profitability, Solvency, Asset Efficiency, Market Trading, and Technical dimensions. Individual factor scores and the composite rank reflect relative rankings within the FTSE 100 universe — a lower rank number indicates stronger performance in that category.

Underlying financial and market data is sourced from LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) and processed through our scoring engine. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available and should be interpreted as a systematic screening output, not a forecast of future share price performance.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. Past performance and factor rankings are not indicative of future results. Please read our Risk Disclaimer before making any investment decisions.

Strategyland Research Center - strategyland.ukThis report is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice.