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Michael Page plc (PAGE) AI Stock Analysis

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GB:PAGE

Michael Page plc

(LSE:PAGE)

Select Model
Rating:58Neutral
Price Target:GBX 222.00â–²(3.84% Upside)
Action:reiterated
Date:08/06/26

The score is held back primarily by weakened financial performance (contracting revenue, sharply lower earnings, and deteriorating cash flow), alongside a demanding valuation (high P/E). These are partly offset by strong technical momentum (price above key moving averages with a positive MACD) and a balanced earnings-call outlook with steady guidance and cost-savings/progress, but with ongoing gross profit and cash/working-capital headwinds.

Positive Factors
Diversified global recruitment modelThe multi-brand, international model spreads activity across geographies, recruitment formats, professional disciplines and client segments. This diversification can support resilience when hiring conditions vary by region or role type and provides several channels for rebuilding growth over the next few quarters.
Negative Factors
Prolonged revenue and earnings contractionThe decline in revenue across two consecutive years and the sharp reduction in net income demonstrate material pressure on placement volumes, pricing or mix. Thin current profitability leaves less buffer for further weakness and makes recovery dependent on a sustained improvement in hiring activity.

Michael Page plc (PAGE) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)

-60%-40%-20%0%20%40%GB:PAGE-4.78%EWC+21.27%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
Market Cap
GBP 666.89M
Dividend Yield
2.18%
Average Volume (3M)
974.51K
Price to Earnings (P/E)
54.5
Beta (1Y)
1.36
Revenue Growth
-2.55%
EPS Growth
7.92%
Country
UK
Employees
6,679
Sector
Industrials
Sector Strength
63
Industry
Staffing & Employment Services

Michael Page plc Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

PageGroup plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides recruitment consultancy and other ancillary services in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and the Americas. It provides executive search services, su...

How the Company Makes Money

PageGroup primarily makes money by earning recruitment fees for successfully placing candidates with client organisations. Its core revenue stream is placement fees from permanent recruitment, where it sources, screens and presents candidates and is...

Michael Page plc Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 05, 2026(Q2-2026)|% Change Since:14.60%|Next Earnings Date:Mar 10, 2027
Earnings Call SentimentNeutral

The call presents a balanced picture. There are clear signs of operational progress: improved operating profit versus the prior year, higher fee-earner productivity, record performances in Page Executive and Enterprise Solutions, significant cost-savings actions (GBP 40m annualized) and a strong Net Promoter Score (67). However, these positives are offset by a small year-on-year decline in gross profit (-2.4%), regional trading challenges (France, Northern Europe, U.K.), working capital and cash pressure that moved the group to net debt in H1 (GBP 7.2m), an elevated tax rate (41.2%) and short-term one-off costs. Management expects full-year operating profit in line with consensus (GBP 28m) and anticipates a return to a net cash position by year-end, but near-term headwinds and mixed regional performance temper the outlook.

Positive Updates

Operating Profit Recovery
Group operating profit of GBP 9.7m in H1 2026, up from GBP 2.1m in H1 2025, with a group conversion rate of 2.5% (EMEA conversion was 7.5% and the Americas 4.2%).

Negative Updates

Gross Profit Decline
Group gross profit was GBP 385.2m, down 2.4% in constant currencies versus H1 2025.

Company Guidance

Management guided that full‑year operating profit should be in line with company‑compiled consensus of GBP 28.0m and announced an interim dividend of 1.46p (GBP 4.6m), expecting to close the year with around GBP 30m net cash after that payment; H1 results were gross profit GBP 385.2m (‑2.4% cc), operating profit GBP 9.7m (conversion 2.5%), gross profit per fee earner +3.7%, EPS 1.2p and net debt GBP 7.2m, with trade receivables GBP 346.6m, cash GBP 30.4m, borrowings GBP 30.0m (RCF) and GBP 7.6m (debtor facility) and net assets GBP 211.6m. Management flagged H1 one‑off net costs of GBP 2.5m that will deliver annualized savings from 2027, cited around GBP 40m of annualized savings from earlier cost programmes, reported H1 EBITDA inflow GBP 40m alongside an increase in net working capital of c. GBP 34m, capex of GBP 3.2m (down from GBP 7.1m), an elevated effective tax rate of 41.2% expected to normalize to ~35% as profitability improves, and reiterated capital allocation priorities (operational investment, ordinary dividends growing with long‑term growth, then supplementary returns). They also highlighted operational momentum — c.50% of the group in growth, Page Executive up 8% (c.10% of group gross profit), Enterprise Solutions outsourcing +22%, >75,000 lives changed in H1 (c.865,000 to date) and an NPS of 67 — and will provide a Q3 trading update on 13 October.

Michael Page plc Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Financials reflect a cyclical downturn: revenues have contracted in 2024 and 2025 and profitability has compressed sharply (net income down from 77.1m in 2023 to 9.0m in 2025). The balance sheet looks moderately levered (debt 132.3m vs equity 214.6m in 2025), but the equity base has declined meaningfully since 2022, reducing cushion. Cash flow remains positive, yet operating cash flow and free cash flow fell materially in 2025, indicating weaker near-term momentum.

Income Statement

42Neutral

Balance Sheet

64Positive

Cash Flow

55Neutral
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.60B1.60B1.74B2.01B1.99B1.64B
Gross Profit765.05M769.52M842.59M1.01B1.08B877.72M
EBITDA84.44M78.14M117.54M187.83M257.77M222.53M
Net Income12.69M9.02M28.44M77.07M139.01M118.36M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets605.41M575.73M650.10M704.57M794.94M724.46M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments30.43M31.38M95.35M90.14M131.48M153.98M
Total Debt169.98M132.25M136.79M110.93M109.83M102.34M
Total Liabilities393.77M361.10M387.69M398.09M442.74M384.35M
Stockholders Equity211.63M214.63M262.41M306.49M352.20M340.11M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow51.54M40.10M110.99M121.63M152.99M120.32M
Operating Cash Flow57.56M50.06M126.66M153.01M184.66M148.69M
Investing Cash Flow-7.50M-11.38M-13.73M-28.56M-29.59M-25.73M
Financing Cash Flow-51.41M-103.51M-106.09M-156.76M-183.53M-131.19M

Michael Page plc Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price213.80

Price Trends

50DMA210.74Positive
100DMA182.72Positive
200DMA166.12Positive

Market Momentum

MACD1.41Negative
RSI56.25Neutral
STOCH83.24Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:PAGE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 213.80 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 204.63, above the 50-day MA of 210.74, and above the 200-day MA of 166.12, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.41 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 56.25 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 83.24 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for GB:PAGE.

Michael Page plc Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)

Financial Indicators

GB:PAGE against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
GB:STEMGB:STEM65NeutralGBP 365.33M29.815.85%4.71%-9.15%-53.32%
Sector *63Neutral$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
GB:HASGB:HAS59NeutralGBP 940.08M-16.11-13.31%0.74%-2.81%-657.14%
GB:PAGEGB:PAGE58NeutralGBP 675.23M54.545.95%2.18%-2.55%7.92%
GB:STAFGB:STAF57NeutralGBP 43.33M6.9617.30%―18.21%71.90%
GB:GATCGB:GATC56NeutralGBP 43.36M12.9611.07%2.42%5.91%458.42%
GB:RWAGB:RWA53NeutralGBP 86.17M-3.64-25.40%―-2.82%-66.89%

* Industrials Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-50%0%50%100%GB:PAGEGB:GATCGB:HASGB:RWAGB:STAFGB:STEMDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
GB:PAGE and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
GB:PAGEMichael Page Plc213.80-13.65-6.00%
GB:GATCGattaca plc137.5043.1445.71%
GB:HASHays plc59.752.233.88%
GB:RWARobert Walters131.00-16.50-11.19%
GB:STAFStaffline Group plc39.60-6.40-13.91%
GB:STEMSThree plc303.50159.36110.57%

Michael Page plc Corporate Events

DividendsRegulatory Filings and Compliance

Michael Page chair adds shares through dividend reinvestment

Positive
Oct 20, 2026

Michael Page plc disclosed that its chair, Angela Seymour-Jackson, acquired additional ordinary shares in the company through a dividend reinvestment plan. The transaction, executed on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market, involved the purch...

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures

Michael Page Returns to Growth as U.S. and Asia Drive Recruitment Recovery

Positive
Oct 13, 2026

Michael Page plc reported its first quarter of growth since late 2022, with group gross profit rising 1.5% year on year in constant currency to £190.5 million in the third quarter of 2026. Growth was led by the Americas and Asia Pacific, while E...

Financial Disclosures

Michael Page Schedules Q3 2026 Trading Update and Investor Call

Neutral
Oct 9, 2026

Michael Page plc has announced that it will publish its trading update for the third quarter of 2026 at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. The update is expected to provide investors and analysts with fresh insight into the performance of the glo...

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes

Michael Page Names Paul Harrison as Next Chair in Planned Board Succession

Positive
Sep 24, 2026

Michael Page plc has appointed existing Non-Executive Director Paul Harrison as Chair-designate, succeeding current Chair Angela Seymour-Jackson when she retires from the board, expected around the 2027 AGM. Harrison brings more than 25 years of publ...

Business Operations and StrategyDividendsFinancial Disclosures

Michael Page lifts profit and productivity as rebrand and tech investments underpin strategy

Positive
Aug 6, 2026

Michael Page reported a resilient first-half performance in 2026, with revenue broadly flat, gross profit slightly lower and operating profit more than quadrupling amid tighter cost control and higher productivity per fee earner. The group maintained...

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures

Michael Page Sets Date for 2026 Half-Year Results and Investor Call

Neutral
Aug 3, 2026

Michael Page plc will publish its 2026 half year financial results at 7:00 a.m. on Thursday 6 August 2026, providing the market with an update on trading performance and business trends for the first six months of the year. The release will be accomp...

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Aug 06, 2026