London, Jan 28, 2026, 09:27 GMT — Regular session
- 3i shares rose 0.35% in morning trade following Monday’s steep decline
- RBC’s Manjari Dhar warns of Action’s “diminishing returns” risk and lowers the target price to 3,000p
- Attention turns to Thursday’s 3i trading update for insights on Action and NAV
Shares in 3i Group (III.L) edged up 0.35% on Wednesday, hitting 3,146 pence. The rise recouped a bit of the losses from a broker-driven selloff earlier this week. 1
The private equity firm dropped 4.86% Monday, finishing at 31.29 pounds and underperforming the broader market. This decline spotlighted concerns over how heavily 3i’s outlook depends on a single holding: discount retailer Action. 2
RBC Capital Markets analyst Manjari Dhar warned that Action faces “a period of diminishing returns,” with mounting pressure on customers and intensifying competition in crucial markets. 3
RBC downgraded 3i to “Underperform” from “Sector Perform,” slicing its price target to 3,000p from 3,250p. The firm noted that Action trades at roughly 28 times expected 2026 earnings, compared to about 24 times for Inditex. It pointed to France as a key concern, alongside tougher pricing pressures from B&M and online rivals like Temu. 4
Barclays pared its target price to 4,740p from 4,835p but maintained an “overweight” rating — underscoring the debate over how much of the slowdown the market has already factored in. 5
Shares have moved in a narrow range of 3,130p to 3,161p this Wednesday, according to data from Investing.com. The price is still far off its 52-week peak, which stands close to 4,496p. 6
Valuation, not just the headlines, drives investor concern. Since 3i’s portfolio is largely unlisted, its share price tends to reflect guesses about the value of those assets and their growth pace.
But the structure works both ways. A slip in Action’s like-for-like sales—sales at stores open for at least a year—or a wider markdown in private-market valuations could weigh on net asset value, or NAV, the portfolio’s worth after debt is deducted.
Traders are keeping an eye on whether value retail can sustain its momentum amid changing consumer spending and the rise of low-price online platforms across Europe. A slowdown in discount growth would put pressure on the case for premium multiples.
The next catalyst comes Thursday, when 3i is set to release a trading statement, per the London Stock Exchange’s events calendar. Investors will be watching closely for updates on Action’s momentum and any shifts in NAV forecasts. 7
