Hays (LON:HAS) Trading 6.3% Higher – Here’s Why

Posted by Ethan Ryder on Jun 23rd, 2026

Hays plc (LON:HAS – Get Free Report)’s stock price shot up 6.3% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as GBX 32.70 and last traded at GBX 31.98. 7,612,479 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 41% from the average session volume of 12,908,801 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 30.08.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed an “underperform” rating and set a GBX 28 price target on shares of Hays in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Citigroup lowered their target price on shares of Hays from GBX 90 to GBX 75 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Hays presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of GBX 71.60.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on HAS

Hays Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of £511.36 million, a PE ratio of -48.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.24 and a beta of 0.77. The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 33.18 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 40.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 65.55.

Hays announced that its board has authorized a share repurchase program on Monday, June 1st that authorizes the company to buyback 0 shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally a sign that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, insider Mark Dearnley acquired 485,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 14th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 30 per share, with a total value of £145,650. Also, insider Joe Hurd purchased 5,672 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 35 per share, for a total transaction of £1,985.20. Over the last quarter, insiders purchased 491,224 shares of company stock worth $14,765,184. 0.76% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.