Edison: discoverIE Well-Positioned as Market Conditions, Demand Improves

discoverIE Group reported its first-half trading update this week, revealing it has resumed organic revenue growth for the first time in more than a year, marking a turning point following an extended period of customer destocking.

The electronics design and manufacturing group reported organic revenue growth of 1% year-on-year in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and 0.5% for the first half, after flat performance in the first quarter. 

Organic order growth was particularly strong in the second quarter, up 8%, providing a book-to-bill ratio above one and signalling a healthy pipeline for the second half.

Following the report, analysts at Edison noted that trading remains in line with board expectations, prompting the research firm to maintain its earnings forecasts. 

Group revenue rose 2% year-on-year in the half, or 3% at constant exchange rates, including a 2.5% contribution from acquisitions. 

Three of discoverIE’s four divisions, Sensing, Connectivity and Magnetics, generated organic growth, while demand at the Controls unit stayed subdued.

Edison noted that gross margins remain robust and gearing has fallen to 1.3 times, below the company’s 1.5–2.0 times target range, leaving around £80 million in funding capacity to support acquisitions.

The research house slightly trimmed its operating profit forecasts for fiscal 2026 and 2027 due to weaker demand in the Controls segment but left earnings estimates unchanged thanks to lower interest costs.

discoverIE shares trade on 14.7 times forecast 2026 earnings, a steep discount to peers. Edison said the company is “well positioned to benefit as market conditions improve and in particular as demand returns in the Controls business.”