How to buy International Distributions Services shares

International Distributions Services PLC (IDS) is a publicly traded integrated freight and logistics business based in the UK which employs around 163,250 staff. International Distributions Services is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and traded in sterling. Its current price of 363.20p is 0.6% down on its price a month ago (365.40p).

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Fees calculator for buying International Distributions Services 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

Platform	Finder Score	Account fee	Min. initial deposit	Trade cost	Link
	9 Excellent	£0	$100	£3,650.16	Go to siteCapital at risk
	9.1 Excellent	£0	£1	£3,650.16	Go to siteCapital at risk
	9.2 Excellent	£0	£0	£3,650.16	Go to siteCapital at risk
	8.5 Great	£0 (0.45% for funds)	£1	£3,662.11	Go to siteCapital at risk

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Alternative ways to invest in International Distributions Services

• Via a fund
• Via a FTSE 250 ETF

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 International Distributions Services), and the idea is that drops in the value of one constituent company's share price might be offset by rises in others.

International Distributions Services 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	Icon	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

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.

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Is it a good time to buy International Distributions Services stock?

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Technical analysis

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Frequently asked questions

• Where can I buy Royal Mail shares?

  Investors can buy and sell Royal Mail (now International Distributions Services) shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: IDS). This means anyone with a trading account that offers access to the UK stock market can invest in Royal Mail.

• Can I buy Post Office shares?

  The Post Office is still government-owned, so you can't currently buy Post Office shares. Following the Postal Services Act, the UK government split the Post Office and Royal Mail into separate entities, and investors were then able to buy stocks in Royal Mail. This means that buying shares in Royal Mail does not make you a shareholder in the Post Office.

• Does International Distributions Services pay dividends?

  • Dividend yield
  • Forward yield
  • Payout ratio

  Dividend yield: 0.55% of stock value

  Forward annual dividend yield: 0.55% of stock value

  Dividend payout ratio: 7.6% of net profits

  International Distributions Services has recently paid out dividends equivalent to 0.55% of its share value annually.

  International Distributions Services has paid out, on average, around 7.6% of recent net profits as dividends. That has enabled analysts to estimate a "forward annual dividend yield" of 0.55% of the current stock value. This means that over a year, based on recent payouts (which are sadly no guarantee of future payouts), shareholders could enjoy a 0.55% return on their shares, in the form of dividend payments. In International Distributions Services's case, that would currently equate to about 2 per share.

  While International Distributions Services's payout ratio might seem low, this can signify that the company is investing more in its future growth.

  International Distributions Services's dividend yield is perhaps best considered in relation to those of similar companies.

  • Amazon-com (AMZN.US): (does not pay dividend)

• When does the fiscal year end for International Distributions Services?

  International Distributions Services's fiscal year ends in March.

• Where is International Distributions Services based?

  International Distributions Services's address is: 185 Farringdon Road, London, United Kingdom, EC1A 1AA

• How to sell International Distributions Services shares

  It's as easy to sell International Distributions Services as it is to buy! Here's how to sell International Distributions Services 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 International Distributions Services shares. Your investment platform will let you know when your shares are sold

• Can you buy International Distributions Services shares with a debit card?

  Most dealing providers will let you use your debit card to top up your account and buy shares. The main ways are with a debit card, bank transfer or with Apple/Google Pay.

• What's the easiest way to buy International Distributions Services shares?

  The easiest way to get hold of some International Distributions Services shares is to sign up for a share trading app and place a market order or basic order. This type of order tells the platform that you're interested, so it'll try to execute it as quickly as it can. It could take some time for the order to go through, especially if there's a lot of volatility in International Distributions Services shares.

• Do you need to complete a W8-BEN form if you want to invest in International Distributions Services

  If you're investing in a US stock, you'll need to complete a W8-BEN form to minimise your tax liability. Whether these are automatically handled for you depends on your broker, so it would be a good idea to check with them directly.

• What is the key financial information for International Distributions Services?

  International Distributions Services financials

  Revenue TTM	£13.2 billion
  Operating margin TTM	3.2%
  Gross profit TTM	£5.5 billion
  Return on assets TTM	4.8%
  Return on equity TTM	7.79%
  Profit margin	1.92%
  Book value	3.60p
  Market capitalisation more info button	£3.5 billion
  EBITDA more info button	£899 million

  TTM: trailing 12 months

• Can I buy International Distributions Services shares with eToro?

  No. But you may have more luck with IG, Hargreaves Lansdown or Freetrade, as these platforms have a wider coverage of stocks than eToro.

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