Bunzl Shares Rise as Group Upgrades 2026 Guidance and Completes Australian Acquisition

Shares in Bunzl (LON: BNZL) jumped more than 1% on Tuesday morning after the specialist international distribution and services group upgraded its full-year 2026 outlook and confirmed a bolt-on acquisition in Australia.

The stock rose 26p, or 1.06%, to 2,490p in early London trading, having opened at 2,502p and touched a session high of 2,514p, following the release of the company’s pre-close statement ahead of its half-year reporting period ending 30 June 2026.

Strong First-Half Revenue Growth

Bunzl said it expects first-half 2026 group revenue to grow by approximately 4% at constant exchange rates, with underlying revenue growth of around 3%. The company cited encouraging volume growth, particularly from its North America Distribution business, alongside product cost inflation driven by geopolitical events providing an additional tailwind in the second quarter.

WELCOME BONUS - Free Share Bundle When You Invest £50! Get up to £500 cashback for investing with IG.

Invest in 15,000+ shares and ETFs. Open an account now, invest at least £50, and you’ll get a free share bundle worth between £40 and £200. T&Cs apply.

5.0

Open Account Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Adjusted operating profit is expected to show good year-on-year growth in the first half at constant exchange rates, with operating margin forecast to be up modestly, partly reflecting the annualisation of synergies from its Nisbets acquisition.

Full-Year Guidance Upgraded

For the full year, Bunzl upgraded its revenue guidance to reflect modest underlying growth, supported by some inflation and a small contribution from acquisitions, while its operating margin guidance — slightly down year-on-year — remains unchanged.

Australian Acquisition Completed

The group also confirmed it completed the acquisition of Scientifix Group, an Australian distributor of critical products to the Life Sciences and Biotechnology sectors, in April. The business is expected to generate revenue of AUD 18 million (approximately £9 million) in the 12 months to June 2026.

Chief Executive Frank van Zanten said the results demonstrate “the resilience and agility of our business model,” adding that the North America Distribution business has “largely restored” its high service levels following operational improvements, and that 2026 would be “a foundation for future profit growth.”