Best for
All-rounder
How to buy G4S shares | 254.1p
Own G4S shares in just a few minutes. Share price changes are updated daily.
Fact checked
G4S plc (GFS) is a leading security & protection services business based in the UK. It opened the day at 253.1p after a previous close of 254p. During the day the price has varied from a low of 251.8p to a high of 255p. The latest price was 254.1p (25 minute delay). G4S is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and employs 533,000 staff. All prices are listed in pence sterling.
How to buy shares in G4S
- Choose a platform. If you're a beginner, our share-dealing table below can help you choose.
- Open your account. You'll need your ID, bank details and national insurance number.
- Confirm your payment details. You'll need to fund your account with a bank transfer, debit card or credit card.
- Search the platform for stock code: GFS in this case.
- Research G4S shares. The platform should provide the latest information available.
- Buy your G4S shares. It's that simple.
Best for
Low-cost trading
Best for
US shares
Best for
Beginners
What's in this guide?
How has Coronavirus impacted G4S's share price?
Since the stock market crash in March caused by coronavirus, G4S's share price has had significant positive movement.
Its last market close was 208p, which is 3.70% up on its pre-crash value of 200.3p and 175.42% up on the lowest point reached during the March crash when the shares fell as low as 75.52p.
If you had bought £1,000 worth of G4S shares at the start of February 2020, those shares would have been worth £398.85 at the bottom of the March crash, and if you held on to them, then as of the last market close they'd be worth £1,084.18.
G4S share price
Use our graph to track the performance of GFS stocks over time.G4S shares at a glance
Information last updated 2020-12-18.
| Open | 253.1p |
|---|---|
| High | 255p |
| Low | 251.8p |
| Close | 254.1p |
| Previous close | 254p |
| Change | 0.1p |
| Change % | 0.039% |
| Volume | 9,250,312 |
Information last updated 2020-12-27.
| 52-week range | 71.0811p - 258.1255p |
|---|---|
| 50-day moving average | 237.3147p |
| 200-day moving average | 176.9965p |
| Wall St. target price | 241p |
| PE ratio | 232.7273 |
| Dividend yield | 0.1p (11.97%) |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | 1.1p |
Invest in G4S shares with 0% commission
Other fees may apply. Your capital is at risk.
- Unlimited trades, with no dealing charges or management fees
- If your trades get copied you can earn extra money
- Create an account today in a few minutes
Go to site
Capital at risk
Share dealing platform comparison
Table: sorted by promoted deals first
All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.
Is it a good time to buy G4S stock?
The technical analysis gauge below displays real-time ratings for the timeframes you select. This is not a recommendation, however. It represents a technical analysis based on the most popular technical indicators: Moving Averages, Oscillators and Pivots. Finder might not concur and takes no responsibility.
G4S price performance over time
Historical closes compared with the last close of 254.1p
| 1 week (2021-01-11) | -1.44% |
|---|---|
| 1 month (2020-12-18) | 254.1 |
| 3 months (2020-10-16) | 21.75% |
| 6 months (2020-07-17) | 92.57% |
| 1 year (2020-01-17) | 21.40% |
|---|---|
| 2 years (2019-01-18) | 21.52% |
| 3 years (2018-01-18) | -11.77% |
| 5 years (2016-01-18) | 19.02% |
Is G4S under- or over-valued?
Valuing G4S stock is incredibly difficult, and any metric has to be viewed as part of a bigger picture of G4S's overall performance. However, analysts commonly use some key metrics to help gauge the value of a stock.
G4S's P/E ratio
G4S's current share price divided by its per-share earnings (EPS) over a 12-month period gives a "trailing price/earnings ratio" of roughly 233x. In other words, G4S shares trade at around 233x recent earnings.
That's relatively high compared to, say, the trailing 12-month P/E ratio for the FTSE 250 at the end of September 2019 (19.71). The high P/E ratio could mean that investors are optimistic about the outlook for the shares or simply that they're over-valued.
G4S's PEG ratio
G4S's "price/earnings-to-growth ratio" can be calculated by dividing its P/E ratio by its growth – to give 0.897. A low ratio can be interpreted as meaning the shares offer better value, while a higher ratio can be interpreted as meaning the shares offer worse value.
The PEG ratio provides a broader view than just the P/E ratio, as it gives more insight into G4S's future profitability. By accounting for growth, it could also help you if you're comparing the share prices of multiple high-growth companies.
G4S's EBITDA
G4S's EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) is £660 million.
The EBITDA is a measure of a G4S's overall financial performance and is widely used to measure a its profitability.
G4S financials
| Revenue TTM | £7.5 billion |
|---|---|
| Operating margin TTM | 7.69% |
| Gross profit TTM | £1.3 billion |
| Return on assets TTM | 6.29% |
| Return on equity TTM | 3.58% |
| Profit margin | 0.23% |
| Book value | 0.345p |
| Market capitalisation | £4 billion |
TTM: trailing 12 months
G4S share dividends
Dividend payout ratio: 61100% of net profits
Recently G4S has paid out, on average, around 61100% of net profits as dividends. That has enabled analysts to estimate a "forward annual dividend yield" of 11.97% of the current stock value. This means that over a year, based on recent payouts (which are sadly no guarantee of future payouts), G4S shareholders could enjoy a 11.97% return on their shares, in the form of dividend payments. In G4S's case, that would currently equate to about 0.1p per share.
G4S's payout ratio would broadly be considered high, and as such this stock could appeal to those looking to generate an income. Bear in mind however that companies should normally also look to re-invest a decent amount of net profits to ensure future growth.
The latest dividend was paid out to all shareholders who bought their shares by 30 April 2020 (the "ex-dividend date").
G4S share price volatility
Over the last 12 months, G4S's shares have ranged in value from as little as 71.0811p up to 258.1255p. A popular way to gauge a stock's volatility is its "beta".
Beta is a measure of a share's volatility in relation to the market. The market (LSE average) beta is 1, while G4S's is 1.1618. This would suggest that G4S's shares are a little bit more volatile than the average for this exchange and represent, relatively-speaking, a slightly higher risk (but potentially also market-beating returns).
Win £500 to get your trading started
Subscribe to trending stock alerts for a chance to win
G4S overview
G4S plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides security and related services in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The company offers software tools, including evidence based risk assessment, incident management, and travel advisory systems, such as RISK360; and proprietary security systems comprising symmetry connect access control and visitor management systems. It also provides custody, detention, rehabilitation, and care services; automated cash solutions for retailers, automated bulk-teller solution for banks, and mobile banking services, as well as G4S Pay, a retail cash solution; and security advice, risk mitigation strategies, secure support, and integrated solutions. The company serves corporates and industrials, government, financial institutions, private energy/utilities, and ports and airports, as well as the retail, transport and logistics, and leisure and tourism sectors. G4S plc was founded in 1901 and is based in London, the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
More guides on Finder
-
How to buy Lemonade shares | $50.05
Learn more about Lemonade’s recent performance and where you can invest in Lemonade shares. We also run through some helpful rules of thumb for any investor.
-
How to buy Unity Software shares | $111.51
Learn more about Unity Software’s recent performance and where you can invest in Unity Software shares. We also run through some helpful rules of thumb for any investor
-
How to buy FuelCell Energy shares | $3.745
Learn more about FuelCell Energy’s recent performance and where you can invest in FuelCell Energy shares. We also run through some helpful rules of thumb for any investor.
-
How to buy CloudCommerce shares | $0.1275
Learn more about CloudCommerce’s recent performance and where you can invest in CloudCommerce shares. We also run through some helpful rules of thumb for any investor
-
How to buy Zomedica Pharmaceuticals shares | $0.93
Ever wondered how to buy shares in Zomedica Pharmaceuticals? We explain how and compare a range of providers that can give you access to many brands, including Zomedica Pharmaceuticals.
-
How to buy YRC Worldwide shares | $4.66
Ever wondered how to buy shares in YRC Worldwide? We explain how and compare a range of providers that can give you access to many brands, including YRC Worldwide.
-
How to buy Xeros Technology Group shares | 220p
Ever wondered how to buy shares in Xeros Technology Group? We explain how and compare a range of providers that can give you access to many brands, including Xeros Technology Group.
-
How to buy Xpediator shares | 33.5p
Ever wondered how to buy shares in Xpediator? We explain how and compare a range of providers that can give you access to many brands, including Xpediator.
-
How to buy Van Elle Holdings shares | 42p
Ever wondered how to buy shares in Van Elle Holdings? We explain how and compare a range of providers that can give you access to many brands, including Van Elle Holdings.
-
How to buy ULS Technology shares | 80.7p
Ever wondered how to buy shares in ULS Technology? We explain how and compare a range of providers that can give you access to many brands, including ULS Technology.
Ask an Expert