How to buy WH Smith shares in the UK

WH Smith PLC (SMWH) is a publicly traded specialty retail business based in the UK which employs around 14,950 staff. WH Smith is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and traded in sterling. Its current price of 1,178.00p is 18.1% down on its price a month ago (1,438.00p).

How to buy shares in WH Smith

Open a brokerage account. Choose from our top broker picks or compare brokers in depth. Then, complete an application.
Fund your account. Add money to your account via bank transfer, debit card or credit card.
Search the platform by ticker symbol. SMWH in this case.
Choose an order type. Place a market order or limit order with your preferred number of shares or dollar amount.
Submit the order. It's that simple.

The whole process can take as little as 15 minutes. You'll need a smartphone or computer, an internet connection, your passport or driving licence and a means of payment.

Our top picks for where to buy WH Smith shares

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We analysed all popular share dealing platforms in the UK using 35 data points and combined this with our expert insight from using the apps. The platforms we've selected as best for each category offer stand-out features or a unique combination of elements for a specific aspect of investing. If we show a "Promoted for" pick, it's been chosen from among our partners and is based on factors that include special features or offers, and the commission we receive. Keep in mind that our picks may not always be the best for you – it's important to compare for yourself. More details in our full methodology.

Fees calculator for buying WH Smith shares with popular apps

Both exchange rates and share prices fluctuate in real time, so the costs estimated here should be considered as a guide only. They don't factor in spreads, which can be hard to pin down. Always refer to the platform itself for availability and pricing.

Quantity of shares

100

Finder Score	Account fee	Min. initial deposit	Trade cost	Link
9 Excellent	£0	$100	£1,183.89	Go to siteCapital at risk
9.1 Excellent	£0	£1	£1,183.89	Go to siteCapital at risk
10 Excellent	£0	£1	£1,183.89	Go to siteCapital at risk
9 Excellent	£0	£0	£1,183.89	Go to siteCapital at risk
9 Excellent	£0	£0	£1,183.89	Go to siteCapital at risk
8.5 Great	£0 (0.45% for funds)	£1	£1,195.84	Go to siteCapital at risk
9.3 Excellent	0% - 0.25%	£100	£1,183.89	Go to siteCapital at risk

Full comparison of share dealing platforms

These providers cover a wide range of stocks, but we can't guarantee they'll all offer this stock.

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.

Buying shares in just one company is generally considered a riskier bet than investing in a range of investments - AKA a "diversified portfolio". Experts generally recommend holding a mix of investments in specific assets and funds. Funds are ready-made portfolios of multiple companies' shares (potentially including WH Smith), and the idea is that drops in the value of one constituent company's share price might be offset by rises in others.

WH Smith is a major part of the London stock exchange, so it's included in many global funds and investment trusts, as well as tracker-style exchange traded funds (ETFs).

Fund	5-year performance (to August 2024)	1-year performance (to August 2024)	Link to invest
Invesco FTSE 250 UCITS ETF (S250)	18.99%	10.17%	Invest with HLCapital at risk
HSBC FTSE 250 UCITS ETF GBP (HMCX)	3.85%	6.59%	Invest with XTBCapital at risk
iShares FTSE 250 UCITS ETF (MIDD)	3.81%	6.82%	Invest with eToroCapital at risk
Vanguard FTSE 250 UCITS ETF Distributing (VMID)	3.47%	6.98%	Invest with XTBCapital at risk
Xtrackers FTSE 250 UCITS ETF 1D (XMCX)	1.99%	5.85%	Invest with XTBCapital at risk

Is it a good time to buy WH Smith stock?

Review technicals and fundamentals to help you determine if now's a good time for you to invest.

Technical analysis

View WH Smith's price performance, share price volatility, historical data and technicals.

Use our graph to track the performance of SMWH stock over time.

Historical closes compared with the last close of 1.00

1 week (2024-12-13)	-99.93%
1 month (2024-11-20)	-99.93%
3 months (2024-09-20)	-99.92%
6 months (2024-06-20)	-99.91%
1 year (2023-12-20)	-99.91%
2 years (2022-12-20)	-99.91%
3 years (2021-12-20)	-99.93%
5 years (2019-12-20)	-99.95%

The gauge below shows real-time ratings that are based on 26 popular indicators such as moving averages, for specific time periods. It's not a recommendation but is simply technical analysis that can form part of your research.

Finder might not agree with the analysis and we take no responsibility. We also give no representations or warranty on the accuracy or completeness of the information provided on this page.

Invest in WH Smith shares

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Frequently asked questions

WH Smith's shares were split on a 67:74 basis on 21 February 2008. So if you had owned 74 shares the day before before the split, the next day you'd have owned 67 shares. This wouldn't directly have changed the overall worth of your WH Smith shares – just the quantity. However, indirectly, the new 10.4% higher share price could have impacted the market appetite for WH Smith shares which in turn could have impacted WH Smith's share price.
It's as easy to sell WH Smith as it is to buy! Here's how to sell WH Smith shares that you already own.
1. Open your investment app. If you've got one with desktop access, you can log in online
2. Go to your portfolio. This should be in the main menu
3. Find your shares. You may be able to search your portfolio
4. Choose how many you'd like to sell. You'll be able to review the price and see how much you'll receive
5. Sell your WH Smith shares. Your investment platform will let you know when your shares are sold

WH Smith financials

Revenue TTM	£1.9 billion
Operating margin TTM	7.34%
Gross profit TTM	£862 million
Return on assets TTM	6.62%
Return on equity TTM	22.29%
Profit margin	3.44%
Book value	2.36p
Market capitalisation	£1.5 billion
EBITDA	£227 million

TTM: trailing 12 months

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How to buy WH Smith shares

Learn how to easily invest in WH Smith shares.

How to buy shares in WH Smith

Our top picks for where to buy WH Smith shares

How we chose these trading apps

Fees calculator for buying WH Smith shares with popular apps

Alternative ways to invest in WH Smith

Is it a good time to buy WH Smith stock?

Technical analysis

Frequently asked questions

Does WH Smith pay dividends?

When does the fiscal year end for WH Smith?

Where is WH Smith based?

Have WH Smith's shares ever split?

How to sell WH Smith shares

Can you buy WH Smith shares with a debit card?

What's the easiest way to buy WH Smith shares?

Do you need to complete a W8-BEN form if you want to invest in WH Smith

What is the key financial information for WH Smith?

Can I buy WH Smith shares with eToro?

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