WH Smith PLC (SMWH)
London Exchange · UK · prices in GBX · close of 23 Oct 2026
Key indicators
| Last close | GBX 419.20 |
|---|---|
| 52-week range | 345.60 – 712.00 |
| Return, 1 month / 3 months | +13.2% / +2.2% |
| Return, 1 year / 3 years | −37.3% / −63.4% |
| Trend | Below its 200-day average |
| RSI (14) | 67 |
| Volatility (1 year) | 42.8% |
| Worst drawdown (1 year) | -48.8% |
| Average daily value traded | 240.75M GBX |
| Dividend yield | 1.4% |
Market X-Ray price-based
Five-year price chart navy: price · brown: 200-day average
About the company
WH Smith is a British retailer based in Swindon that serves shoppers through two main kinds of outlets. Its high street stores offer books, stationery, magazines, newspapers and related goods, while its travel business runs shops in airports, railway stations, hospitals and motorway service areas, selling reading material, snacks, drinks and travel essentials to people on the move. The company also operates branded convenience and technology retail formats in some locations.
The shares are listed on the London Exchange in UK under the code SMWH, and the price on this page is in pence sterling (GBX). Our dividend records, which start in 2019, show payments in 6 different calendar years. The Market X-Ray on this page is price-based and compares it with other stocks on the same exchange; it does not measure how healthy the business is.
Summary
WH Smith PLC (SMWH) trades on the London Exchange in UK. It last closed at GBX 419.20 on 23 October 2026.
Its price-based Market X-Ray is 34 out of 100 (a weak price profile), ranking 2,917 of 3,787 stocks on this exchange. The score describes how the stock has traded: trend, momentum, risk, liquidity and dividends, each ranked against the other stocks on its own exchange. It does not measure how healthy or cheap the business is.
Over the last year the price fell 37.3% and over the last three months it rose 2.2%. Returns are price returns, dividends not included.
Fundamental measures (valuation, growth, financial health) are not shown: we do not yet hold financial statements for this market.
The five lenses in numbers each metric is ranked against the other stocks on London Exchange
| Lens and metric | Value | Score | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trend | 16 · Weak | Below its long-term averages and far from its highs. | |
| Above 200-day average | -16.1% | ||
| From 52-week high | -41.0% | ||
| Momentum | 28 · Weak | Lagging most stocks on this exchange. | |
| 3-month return | 2.2% | ||
| 6-month return | -26.6% | ||
| 12-month return, skipping the last month | -44.7% | ||
| Stability (higher is calmer) | 29 · Weak | Volatile, with deep drawdowns. | |
| Volatility, 1 year (lower is calmer) | 42.8% | ||
| Worst drawdown, 1 year (smaller is calmer) | -48.8% | ||
| Liquidity | 93 · Strong | Trades actively. | |
| Average daily value traded | 240.75M GBX | ||
| Zero-volume days | 0.0% | ||
| Income | 17 · Weak | Dividend is small or irregular. | |
| Dividend yield | 1.4% | ||
| Years with dividends | 4 |
Strengths
- Liquidity: Trades actively.
Weak spots
- Trend: Below its long-term averages and far from its highs.
- Momentum: Lagging most stocks on this exchange.
- Stability (higher is calmer): Volatile, with deep drawdowns.
- Income: Dividend is small or irregular.
Returns
| 1 week | +3.1% |
|---|---|
| 1 month | +13.2% |
| 3 months | +2.2% |
| 6 months | −26.6% |
| 1 year | −37.3% |
| 3 years | −63.4% |
| 5 years | −71.3% |
Signals
| 50-day / 200-day average | 390.02 / 499.35 |
|---|---|
| Golden / death cross (60 days) | None |
| New 52-week high | No |
| Bullish RSI divergence | No |
| Average daily range (ATR) | 14.14 |
Technical summary
Recent dividends
| Ex-dividend date | Amount per share |
|---|---|
| 22 Jan 2026 | GBP 0.0600 |
| 10 Jul 2025 | GBP 0.1130 |
| 16 Jan 2025 | GBP 0.2260 |
| 11 Jul 2024 | GBP 0.1100 |
| 11 Jan 2024 | GBP 0.2080 |
| 13 Jul 2023 | GBP 0.0810 |
How to read this report
Every number comes from end-of-day prices and dividends. The Market X-Ray describes how the stock has traded, ranked against the other stocks on London Exchange; it does not measure how healthy or cheap the business is. The fundamental X-Ray (financial health, valuation, growth) needs financial statements, which we hold today for US stocks. See the methodology page. Educational only, not financial advice.