Crest Nicholson Holdings plc (CRST.L)
Ever wonder what happens when a traditional British homebuilder hits a rough patch in the housing market?
Is Crest Nicholson Holdings plc a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: There's no rating here and nothing for sale. In its favour: Well-known brand name with decades of British building experience. Worth weighing: Recent net profit margin is currently sitting in negative territory. Below, we lay out what it does, what its numbers mean, and the honest risks, so you can decide for yourself.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
How much has Crest Nicholson Holdings plc actually fallen?
Over the last 2 years of daily prices, Crest Nicholson Holdings plc fell as much as −77% from a high to a later low. Drops of this size are a normal part of owning a share - worth knowing in advance, so a dip doesn't come as a shock.
Worst peak-to-trough fall in the daily closing price over the period we hold. Past falls are not a forecast - it can fall further, or recover.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
A multi-year housing boom revitalises earnings and dividends.
Structural challenges permanently weigh down the traditional homebuilding model.
What does Crest Nicholson Holdings plc do?
Crest Nicholson is a household name across southern England, building everything from starter flats to larger family houses. They make their money by buying land, putting up bricks and mortar, and selling the finished homes to everyday buyers. The big thing keeping investors on their toes right now is how the company plans to rebuild its profit margins after a brutal drop in revenues.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on income and value, and weakest on momentum.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 5.0% a year
- !Revenue slipped about 21% over the year
- ·Low P/E of 8 vs last year's earnings
- ✓Low debt - a sturdier balance sheet
- Income screens high (78/100)
- Well-known brand name with decades of British building experience
- Trading at a steep discount relative to its asset book value
- Attractive headline dividend yield for income-focused watchers
- Quality screens low (23/100)
- Growth screens low (1/100)
- Momentum screens low (1/100)
- Unpredictable fluctuations in building material and labour costs
- Potential pressure to cut home prices if buyer demand remains weak
What do Crest Nicholson Holdings plc's numbers mean?
Does Crest Nicholson Holdings plc pay a dividend?
Yes - Crest Nicholson Holdings plc currently pays a dividend of about 5.0% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
What do the numbers say about Crest Nicholson Holdings plc's dividend?
There's no rating here, and we don't judge whether the dividend will continue - that would be advice. Here are the figures income investors usually look at, and what each one means, so you can weigh it up yourself.
Figures are from the latest available data and can be distorted by one-off results. Past payments don't predict future ones, and a dividend can be cut at any time. This lays out the numbers to help you understand them - it is not a view on what will happen.
When does Crest Nicholson Holdings plc report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Crest Nicholson Holdings plc is next scheduled to report on about 2027-01-26 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Casey's General Stores, Inc.What are the scenarios for Crest Nicholson Holdings plc?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Crest Nicholson Holdings plc?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Well-known brand name with decades of British building experience
- Trading at a steep discount relative to its asset book value: A company's net assets - what it owns minus what it owes - per share. Price-to-book compares the share price to this figure.
- Attractive headline dividend yield: The yearly dividend as a percentage of the share price - roughly the income you'd earn from dividends alone. for income-focused watchers
- Recent net profit margin is currently sitting in negative territory
- Revenues have shrunk significantly compared to previous periods
- High sensitivity to economic downturns and choppy housing conditions
- Unpredictable fluctuations in building material and labour costs
- Potential pressure to cut home prices if buyer demand remains weak
- Risk of dividend reductions if cash flow stays tight
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A sustained return to positive net margins in upcoming financial results
- A dramatic shift in UK mortgage availability and housing transaction volumes
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-02 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.