MyAV范

London Stock Exchange (LSE), which can trace its heritage to the coffee houses of the 17th century, is failing. The volume of shares traded is sharply declining, and some UK companies are swiftly moving to the US market.

Listing in a stock exchange is听听for companies by offering shares to the public and institutions. However, the gap between what companies are valued at on the UK and US stock exchanges is seen as suppressing the market value of UK-listed companies, and prompting them to look for better playing grounds.

Two decades ago, UK-listed equities accounted for听, which tracks the global equity market. Now they represent a meagre 4%. Since 2020,听, including Cambridge-based biotech firm Abcam, plumbing supplier Ferguson and packaging firm Smurfit Kappa Group, have moved to the US.

Most recently, oil and gas giant听听has threatened to do the same. In 2023, the听听(拢10.4 billion) while the LSE managed US$972 million from the companies floating on it.

For companies moving to a US listing, the UK and the US standards differ. In an LSE listing,听听鈥� companies need to raise capital and get approval from regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

In the US, the听听and the New York Stock Exchange both require companies鈥� initial stock price, number of shares, number of shareholders and total market value, in addition to other financial requirements. But once companies float their shares and start trading, they need to meet less stringent standards.

More than 30 companies with听听are leaving London鈥檚 public equity markets. Thirteen companies have undertaken and completed takeover bids and 17 companies delisted.

The aggregate market capitalisation of LSE-listed equities went down to听, from US$4.3 trillion in 2007, whereas the US market has grown three-fold to听.

So what鈥檚 behind this contrast in fortunes? Factors including high interest rates, dwindling pension funds, fewer high-performing tech companies, Brexit isolation and a lack of committed domestic investors have all contributed to the LSE鈥檚听.

Valuation matters

LSE-listed companies鈥� valuation is relatively low compared to their US counterparts. Initial public offerings (or IPOs 鈥� when private companies put their shares on sale to raise capital) on LSE听听in 2023 as a host of companies opted for US listing for the chance of higher valuation and growth.

The valuation differential between both markets is affecting the LSE listing considerably. Earnings for US-listed companies have been consistently growing, at a听听revenues have grown at 9.1%, and the market trading is levelling at an average price-earnings ratio of 27.6.

In contrast, the five-year annualised return of the LSE (2017-2022) was听听and the revenues growth is projected at听.

The US market offers a higher valuation for companies, a faster-growing equity market fuelled by AI-led investor pools, and opportunities to make money through short-selling. The UK market traditionally prefers long-term selling stocks which sometimes result in low growth and return.

This article was originally published in听听on 23听April 2024.

尝颈苍办蝉听

• Original article in听
• MyAV范 Global Business School for Health

• MyAV范 Population Health Sciences