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Investing.com -- Barclays (LON:BARC) has initiated coverage on JTC Group (LON:JTC) with an “overweight” rating and a price target of 1,120 pence, suggesting a 46% upside from current levels.
The brokerage flags JTC as a standout among UK-listed equities due to its consistent growth, earnings visibility, and scalable business model.
JTC provides fund, corporate, and private client administration services across 20 jurisdictions. The company benefits from recurring revenue streams, more than 95% retention, and long-term contracts averaging seven to eight years.
Barclays estimates the company’s total addressable market at $12 billion, supported by ongoing expansion in institutional assets and private wealth.
The brokerage expects JTC to deliver an earnings per share compound annual growth rate of 17% from 2025 to 2027, driven by 10% organic growth and the integration of recent acquisitions.
The Citi Trust deal, anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2025, is seen as a pivotal move that will bring in $80 million in revenue and expand JTC’s U.S. footprint.
JTC’s long-standing M&A strategy is central to its growth. Since going public in 2018, the company has completed 20 acquisitions, which Barclays projects could account for more than half of JTC’s revenue growth through 2027.
The company’s financial profile remains strong, with a 30% EBITA margin and about 90% free cash flow conversion, supporting both dividends and reinvestment.
Employee ownership is another cornerstone of the business. About 22% of the company is held by staff, a structure Barclays believes enhances retention and service quality in this relationship-driven industry.
While acknowledging risks, such as potential disruption from AI in administrative services, integration challenges from large acquisitions, and exposure to reputational issues, Barclays considers these manageable.
JTC’s valuation, currently around 15.5x 2025 earnings, is below both its historical average and comparable business models in the high-retention subscription space.