Hays plc (HAS) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: £850.09M
• Dividend Yield: 5.62%
• Average Volume (3M): 3.60M
• Price to Earnings (P/E): ―
• Beta (1Y): 1.37
• Revenue Growth: -4.92%
• EPS Growth: -58.06%
• Country: UK
• Employees: 10,300
• Sector: Industrials
• Sector Strength: 72
• Industry: Staffing & Employment Services
• EPS (TTM): >-0.01
• Shares Outstanding: 1,591,925,500
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 4,254,856
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 3,604,549
• PEG Ratio: -2.51
• Price to Book (P/B): 2.43
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.17
• P/FCF Ratio: 11.87
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: N/A
• 1Y Price Target: £72.67
• Price Target Upside: 36.09% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Hold
• Number of Analyst Covering: 6

• Rating: 46 Neutral
• Price Target: 56.00p ▲(4.87% Upside)

Hays plc's overall stock score is primarily impacted by its financial performance and technical analysis. The company faces challenges in profitability and revenue growth, which are reflected in its financial performance score. The technical indicators suggest a bearish trend, further weighing down the score. Valuation concerns due to a negative P/E ratio are somewhat offset by a high dividend yield. The lack of earnings call and corporate events data means these components do not influence the score.

Positive Factors

Cash Generation

Strong free cash flow growth indicates effective cash management, providing the company with flexibility to invest in growth opportunities or weather economic downturns.

Global Presence

A strong global presence allows Hays to tap into diverse markets, reducing reliance on any single economy and enhancing its ability to source talent efficiently.

Workforce Solutions

Diversification into workforce solutions and consulting services provides additional revenue streams, enhancing resilience against fluctuations in recruitment demand.

Negative Factors

Revenue Decline

A declining revenue trend suggests challenges in maintaining market share or pricing power, potentially impacting long-term growth prospects if not addressed.

Profitability Challenges

Negative profitability margins indicate operational inefficiencies or pricing pressures, which can erode shareholder value and limit reinvestment capabilities.

Leverage Concerns

Moderate leverage, while manageable, can strain financial flexibility, especially if revenue and profitability do not improve, potentially increasing financial risk.

Hays plc Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Hays plc operates as a recruitment company in Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company offers permanent, temporary, and contractor recruitment services, such as qualified, professional, and skilled recruitment to public and private sectors. It also specializes in offering recruitment services in the areas of accountancy and finance, construction and property, technology, life sciences, sales and marketing, banking and capital markets, contact centers, education, engineering and manufacturing, executive, financial services, health and social care, human resources, legal, office support, energy, oil and gas, procurement, retail, resources and mining, and telecoms. Hays plc was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom.

How the Company Makes Money

Hays plc generates revenue primarily through recruitment fees charged for placing candidates in both temporary and permanent positions. The company earns a significant portion of its income from temporary placements, where it charges clients a markup on the hourly rates paid to temporary workers. Additionally, Hays benefits from permanent placement fees, which are typically a percentage of the candidate's first-year salary. The company also offers workforce solutions and consulting services, which contribute to its revenue. Strategic partnerships with businesses across various sectors enhance Hays' ability to source candidates efficiently, while its extensive global presence allows it to tap into diverse markets for talent acquisition, thereby bolstering its earnings.

Hays plc Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Hays plc faces challenges in revenue growth and profitability, with negative revenue growth and net profit margins. The balance sheet shows moderate leverage but highlights concerns about profitability with a negative return on equity. Cash flow performance is a positive aspect, with strong free cash flow growth and effective cash management.

Income Statement

Hays plc has experienced a decline in revenue over the past year, with a negative revenue growth rate of -2.50%. The company also shows a negative net profit margin of -0.12%, indicating a loss. However, the gross profit margin is slightly positive at 0.37%, suggesting some ability to cover direct costs. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are low at 0.24% and 1.18%, respectively, reflecting challenges in operational efficiency and profitability.

Balance Sheet

The debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67 indicates moderate leverage, which is manageable but higher than previous years. The return on equity is negative at -1.67%, reflecting recent losses. However, the equity ratio is relatively stable, suggesting a reasonable proportion of equity financing. The balance sheet shows some stability but highlights concerns about profitability and leverage.

Cash Flow

Hays plc has shown a positive free cash flow growth rate of 18.91%, indicating improved cash generation. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.10, suggesting that cash flow generation is not strongly aligned with net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is high at 0.93, indicating effective cash management despite net losses. Overall, cash flow performance is a relative strength for the company.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2025	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	6.61B	6.61B	6.95B	7.58B	6.59B	5.65B
Gross Profit	943.10M	24.70M	292.60M	426.80M	421.40M	292.30M
EBITDA	63.90M	78.20M	87.10M	218.90M	232.90M	116.70M
Net Income	-7.80M	-7.80M	-4.90M	138.30M	154.20M	61.50M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	1.77B	1.77B	1.78B	1.90B	2.08B	1.87B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	168.50M	168.50M	121.80M	145.60M	296.20M	410.60M
Total Debt	312.20M	312.20M	244.30M	199.80M	185.10M	201.10M
Total Liabilities	1.30B	1.30B	1.22B	1.23B	1.28B	1.00B
Stockholders Equity	466.70M	466.70M	557.60M	670.30M	796.20M	871.80M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	99.00M	95.60M	72.40M	134.90M	146.80M	-13.70M
Operating Cash Flow	106.00M	102.60M	95.80M	164.00M	171.20M	5.10M
Investing Cash Flow	-22.70M	-22.70M	-20.20M	-30.10M	-24.40M	-18.80M
Financing Cash Flow	-65.30M	-65.30M	-98.80M	-280.70M	-269.40M	-56.40M

Hays plc Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 53.40
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Positive
• STOCH: Positive

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:HAS, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 53.4 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 59.44, below the 50-day MA of 62.20, and below the 200-day MA of 70.89, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -2.31 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 24.36 is Positive, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 7.75 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for GB:HAS.

Hays plc Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
GATC	64 Neutral	29.31M	48.95	0.00%	3.76%	4.14%	-45.24%
STAF	63 Neutral	48.22M	12.39	-20.05%	―	1.44%	0.00%
STEM	62 Neutral	183.92M	6.64	19.99%	7.25%	-13.93%	-48.74%
PAGE	61 Neutral	699.86M	58.47	10.84%	7.72%	-12.54%	-76.55%
HAS	46 Neutral	£850.09M	―	-1.52%	5.62%	-4.92%	-58.06%
RWA	46 Neutral	84.22M	-5.47	-4.33%	14.08%	-14.31%	-361.93%
Sector *	63 Neutral	$10.79B	15.43	7.44%	2.01%	2.89%	-14.66%

Hays plc Corporate Events

Hays plc Awards Shares to Key Executives Under Bonus Plan

Hays plc announced the grant of ordinary shares to several key executives under the company’s Deferred Annual Bonus Plan. This move involves the allocation of shares to the CEO, CFO, and other members of the Executive Leadership Team, reflecting the company’s strategy to incentivize and retain top management. The transactions, which are part of the company’s ongoing efforts to align management interests with shareholder value, may enhance the company’s operational stability and market positioning.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:HAS) stock is a Buy with a £0.90 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hays plc stock, see the GB:HAS Stock Forecast page.

Hays plc Executive Share Transaction Notification

Hays plc announced a transaction involving Matthew Dickason, a member of its Executive Leadership Team, who acquired and subsequently sold 150,971 ordinary shares of the company. This transaction, conducted on the London Stock Exchange, reflects the vesting of an award under the Deferred Annual Bonus Plan, highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to aligning executive incentives with shareholder interests.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:HAS) stock is a Buy with a £0.90 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hays plc stock, see the GB:HAS Stock Forecast page.

Hays plc Updates on Share Capital and Voting Rights

Hays plc announced that as of August 31, 2025, its issued share capital consisted of 1,600,433,092 ordinary shares, with 8,507,593 held in treasury, resulting in 1,591,925,499 voting rights. This figure is crucial for shareholders to determine their reporting obligations under the FCA’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, impacting how they manage their shareholdings and comply with regulatory requirements.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:HAS) stock is a Buy with a £0.90 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hays plc stock, see the GB:HAS Stock Forecast page.

Hays CEO Dirk Hahn Purchases Significant Shares

Hays plc announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Dirk Hahn, has made an on-market purchase of 364,000 ordinary shares of the company at a price of £0.6154221 per share. This transaction, conducted on the London Stock Exchange, highlights a significant investment by the CEO, which may indicate confidence in the company’s future performance and could potentially influence stakeholder perceptions.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:HAS) stock is a Buy with a £0.90 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hays plc stock, see the GB:HAS Stock Forecast page.

Hays plc Executive Acquires Significant Shareholding

Hays plc announced a transaction involving its Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Mark Dearnley, who purchased 387,000 ordinary shares at a price of £0.646078 per share on the London Stock Exchange. This transaction signifies a potential vote of confidence in the company’s future prospects and could impact stakeholder perceptions positively.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:HAS) stock is a Buy with a £95.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hays plc stock, see the GB:HAS Stock Forecast page.

Hays CEO Increases Stake with Significant Share Purchase

Hays plc announced that its CEO, Dirk Hahn, has made an on-market purchase of ordinary shares in the company. The transactions, conducted on the London Stock Exchange on August 22, 2025, involved the acquisition of 130,000 shares at prices of £0.640841 and £0.6398497. This move indicates a potential vote of confidence in the company’s future performance and may impact stakeholder perceptions positively.

The most recent analyst rating on (GB:HAS) stock is a Buy with a £95.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hays plc stock, see the GB:HAS Stock Forecast page.