19 October 2026

strategyland.uk

European Smaller Companies Trust PLC (ESCT)

Rank #240 of 280 - Financials - UK Equities

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European Smaller Companies Trust PLC

ESCT.L·Financials·Market Cap £769m

Rank #240 of 280

Quantitative Model · 280 Stocks Analysed

£2.27

+5.08% YTD

52W: £1.94 - £2.47

Factor Analysis Summary

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

Based on Strategyland's proprietary 7-factor analysis, European Smaller Companies Trust PLC (ESCT.L) currently holds an overall rank of #240 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 profitability (ROE 16.4%, net margin 92.8%), where it demonstrates strong profitability metrics, ranking in the top quartile for earnings quality and return on capital; valuation (P/E 6.4, dividend yield 3.9%), where it demonstrates compelling valuation metrics, trading at a discount to peer averages on key multiples; and solvency (debt/equity 0.1), where it demonstrates a robust solvency position with conservative leverage and strong balance sheet coverage.

Areas requiring attention include liquidity, where thin trading volumes could increase transaction costs and slippage, as well as market trading, where market trading signals are inconclusive and add little to the investment case.

Within the Financials sector, European Smaller Companies Trust PLC sits at composite rank #240, 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 #240, European Smaller Companies Trust PLC shows selective strength — notably in profitability and valuation — suggesting a stock with identifiable merits alongside clear areas for improvement.

Strongest Factors

Profitability — Rank 13/280 (top quartile)
Valuation — Rank 41/280 (top quartile)
Solvency — Rank 50/280 (top quartile)

Weakest Factors

Liquidity — Rank 280/280 (below average)
Market Trading — Rank 162/280 (middle of the pack)

Score Analysis

European Smaller Companies Trust PLC is ranked #240 out of 280 UK stocks. Lower factor scores indicate better performance in that category.

Factor Breakdown

119/280

Average Score

Liquidity

Weak280/280

Valuation

Excellent41/280

Profitability

Excellent13/280

Solvency

Excellent50/280

Asset Efficiency

Fair159/280

Mkt Trading

Fair162/280

Technical

Fair131/280

1. Liquidity

Score: 280/280

How liquid is ESCT 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

0.06xRank 248/280

Range: N/ARank 248/280

–

TTM Operating Cash Flow

N/A

-1.54xRank 238/280

Range: N/ARank 238/280

–

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

0.01xRank 253/280

Range: N/ARank 253/280

Key Liquidity Metrics

Quick Ratio

N/A

Sector: N/A

Current Ratio

0.06x

Sector: N/A

Overall Liquidity Rank

Rank within universe#280/280

Best (1)Worst (280)

2. Valuation

Score: 41/280

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

2/7

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

27.54%Rank 50/280

Range: 30 - 55Rank 50/280

–

Current EV/EBITDA

N/A

7.6xRank 124/280

Range: N/ARank 124/280

✓

Current P/TBV

0.8x - 2.0x

0.93xRank 57/280

Range: 0.8x - 2.0xRank 57/280

✓

Current P/B

0.8x - 2.0x

0.93xRank 66/280

Range: 0.8x - 2.0xRank 66/280

Key Valuation Metrics

TTM P/E

Price-to-Earnings

6.4x

FY26e P/E

Forward estimate

N/A

FY27e P/E

Forward estimate

N/A

Current P/B

Price-to-Book

0.93x

Current P/TBV

Tangible Book Value

0.93x

Current EV/EBITDA

Enterprise Value

7.6x

FY26e EV/EBITDA

Forward estimate

N/A

FY27e EV/EBITDA

Forward estimate

N/A

Dividend

ESCT pays a dividend yield of 3.88%.

Current Yield

3.88%

FY27e Net Div Yield

N/A

FY26e Gross DPS

N/A

FY27e Gross DPS

N/A

3. Profitability

Score: 13/280

How profitable is ESCT relative to its peers?

0/7

profitability criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

✗

TTM Profit Margin

15 - 30

92.8%Rank 36/280

Range: 15 - 30Rank 36/280

–

T12 FCF Margin

N/A

Range: N/A

–

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

92.8%

Current RoCE

16.4%

FY27e RoE

N/A

T12 FCF Margin

N/A

4. Solvency

Score: 50/280

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

0/6

solvency criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

✗

Debt/Eqt

0.5x - 1.5x

0.09xRank 61/280

Range: 0.5x - 1.5xRank 61/280

–

Interest Coverage Ratio

N/A

Rank 37Rank 37/280

Range: N/ARank 37/280

–

Net Leverage Ratio

N/A

Range: N/A

–

Altman Z-Score (Manufacturing)

N/A

13.34Rank 59/280

Range: N/ARank 59/280

–

Z-Score (Non Manufacturing)

N/A

Rank 58Rank 58/280

Range: N/ARank 58/280

–

CapAdeq Ratio Tier1

13 - 18

N/A

Range: 13 - 18

Key Solvency Metrics

Debt/Eqt

0.09x

Net Leverage Ratio

N/A

Interest Coverage

Rank 37

T12 FCF Margin

N/A

Altman Z-Score

13.34

Safe Zone

01.812.995+

5. Asset Efficiency

Score: 159/280

How efficiently does ESCT 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

0.16xRank 197/280

Range: N/ARank 197/280

–

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#159/280

Best (1)Worst (280)

6. Market Trading

Score: 162/280

How liquid and actively traded is ESCT?

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

116%Rank 50/280

Range: N/ARank 50/280

✓

Avg Directional Index 30D

012 - 45

14.1Rank 238/280

Range: 012 - 45Rank 238/280

–

Parabolic SAR

N/A

223.77Rank 227/280

Range: N/ARank 227/280

–

Stock Rating Rank

N/A

Range: N/A

Market Cap

£769,349,258

Enterprise Value

£849,766,258

Trading Volume

7. Technical

Score: 131/280

What do the technical indicators say about ESCT?

0/5

technical criteria met

Metric

Chart

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

CMP v/s 52-WH

£2.47£1.94

-8.0%CMP: £2.27

N/A

-8.0%Rank 106/280

£2.47£1.94

-8.0%CMP: £2.27

Range: N/ARank 106/280

–

CMP v/s 52-WL

£2.47£1.94

+17.4%CMP: £2.27

N/A

17.4%Rank 98/280

£2.47£1.94

+17.4%CMP: £2.27

Range: N/ARank 98/280

–

RSI 14D

028.6 - Oversold100

N/A

28.6Rank 100/280

028.6 - Oversold100

Range: N/ARank 100/280

–

MA50 - MA200

£2.28+0.07£2.35

N/A

BullishRank 173/280

£2.28+0.07£2.35

Range: N/ARank 173/280

–

MACD Rank

Golden Cross

MACD: -0.68

N/A

-0.68

Golden Cross

MACD: -0.68

Range: N/A

RSI (14 Day)

28.6

Oversold

0 (Oversold)50100 (Overbought)

Moving Averages

50 SMA£2.35

200 SMA£2.28

SignalGolden Cross (Bullish)

MACD-0.68

Risk Metrics

Beta

N/A

3-Yr Std Dev

N/A

5-Yr Std Dev

N/A

Peer Comparison

How does ESCT compare to other Financials stocks?

Overall Rank Comparison

Factor Score Comparison

Stock	Rank	Liquidity	Valuation	Profitability	Solvency	Mkt Trading	Technical
ESCT	#240	280	41	13	50	162	131
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 European 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.