19 October 2026

strategyland.uk

Hays plc (HAYS)

Rank #261 of 280 - Industrials - UK Equities

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Hays plc

HAYS.L·Industrials·Market Cap £1.0b

Rank #261 of 280

Quantitative Model · 280 Stocks Analysed

£0.64

+14.12% YTD

52W: £0.29 - £0.78

Factor Analysis Summary

Editorial assessment generated from Hays plc's live factor scores and sector positioning.

Based on Strategyland's proprietary 7-factor analysis, Hays plc (HAYS.L) currently holds an overall rank of #261 out of 280 FTSE 100 constituents, reflecting its weighted composite score across liquidity, valuation, profitability, solvency, asset efficiency, market trading, and technical dimensions.

Its primary strength lies in asset efficiency, where it demonstrates highly efficient capital deployment, converting assets into revenue and returns effectively.

Areas requiring attention include profitability (ROE -13.4%, net margin -0.9%), where compressed margins and weak returns on equity weigh on the earnings profile, as well as market trading, where low relative volume or adverse volatility patterns may deter momentum-oriented investors.

Within the Industrials sector, Hays plc sits at composite rank #261, trailing the Industrials peer average (rank 27). It ranks behind all 6 tracked Industrials peers in our model.

The composite profile is weighed down by 4 below-average factor scores, with profitability (rank 232/280) representing the most significant drag on its #261 overall standing.

Strongest Factors

Asset Efficiency — Rank 17/280 (top quartile)
Liquidity — Rank 158/280 (middle of the pack)
Solvency — Rank 167/280 (middle of the pack)

Weakest Factors

Profitability — Rank 232/280 (below average)
Market Trading — Rank 226/280 (below average)

Score Analysis

Hays plc is ranked #261 out of 280 UK stocks. Lower factor scores indicate better performance in that category.

Factor Breakdown

173/280

Average Score

Liquidity

Fair158/280

Valuation

Weak225/280

Profitability

Weak232/280

Solvency

Fair167/280

Asset Efficiency

Excellent17/280

Mkt Trading

Weak226/280

Technical

Weak183/280

1. Liquidity

Score: 158/280

How liquid is HAYS and can it meet its short-term obligations?

1/6

liquidity criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

Quick Ratio

1.0 - 1.5

N/A

Range: 1.0 - 1.5

✗

Current Ratio

1.4 - 2.0

1.18xRank 143/280

Range: 1.4 - 2.0Rank 143/280

✗

TTM Operating Cash Flow

0.6 - 1.0

0.06xRank 212/280

Range: 0.6 - 1.0Rank 212/280

–

Liquidity Coverage Ratio

N/A

Range: N/A

✗

Intangible Asset Ratio

3 - 15

0.04xRank 97/280

Range: 3 - 15Rank 97/280

✓

Cash-to-Debt Ratio

0.3 - 0.8

0.46xRank 93/280

Range: 0.3 - 0.8Rank 93/280

Key Liquidity Metrics

Quick Ratio

N/A

Sector: 1.0 - 1.5

Current Ratio

1.18x

Sector: 1.4 - 2.0

Overall Liquidity Rank

Rank within universe#158/280

Best (1)Worst (280)

2. Valuation

Score: 225/280

Is HAYS undervalued compared to its peers and fair value metrics?

2/7

valuation criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

✓

FY27e P/E

14x - 28x

19.4xRank 194/280

Range: 14x - 28xRank 194/280

✗

FY26e P/E

14x - 28x

35.0xRank 218/280

Range: 14x - 28xRank 218/280

✗

FY27e Net Div Yld (%)

1.5 - 4.0

1.10%Rank 199/280

Range: 1.5 - 4.0Rank 199/280

–

Div Payout Ratio

30 - 50

N/ARank 25/280

Range: 30 - 50Rank 25/280

✗

Current EV/EBITDA

7.0x - 14.0x

6.0xRank 72/280

Range: 7.0x - 14.0xRank 72/280

✓

Current P/TBV

1.5x - 5.0x

2.89xRank 149/280

Range: 1.5x - 5.0xRank 149/280

✗

Current P/B

1.5x - 5.0x

1.21xRank 118/280

Range: 1.5x - 5.0xRank 118/280

Key Valuation Metrics

TTM P/E

Price-to-Earnings

N/A

FY26e P/E

Forward estimate

35.0x

FY27e P/E

Forward estimate

19.4x

Current P/B

Price-to-Book

1.21x

Current P/TBV

Tangible Book Value

2.89x

Current EV/EBITDA

Enterprise Value

6.0x

FY26e EV/EBITDA

Forward estimate

9.0x

FY27e EV/EBITDA

Forward estimate

6.8x

Dividend

HAYS does not currently pay a significant dividend.

—

No dividend data available for this stock.

3. Profitability

Score: 232/280

How profitable is HAYS relative to its peers?

1/7

profitability criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

✗

TTM Profit Margin

5 - 10

-0.9%Rank 258/280

Range: 5 - 10Rank 258/280

✗

T12 FCF Margin

5 - 20

0.0%Rank 198/280

Range: 5 - 20Rank 198/280

✓

FY27e RoE

10 - 18

12.6%Rank 140/280

Range: 10 - 18Rank 140/280

✗

FY26 EPS Growth

5 - 12

47.3%Rank 29/280

Range: 5 - 12Rank 29/280

✗

FY27e EPS Growth

8 - 15

165.8%Rank 15/280

Range: 8 - 15Rank 15/280

–

NIM

N/A

Range: N/A

–

Expense Ratio

70 - 80

N/A

Range: 70 - 80

TTM Profit Margin

-0.9%

Current RoCE

-13.4%

FY27e RoE

12.6%

T12 FCF Margin

0.0%

EPS Growth

4. Solvency

Score: 167/280

How strong is HAYS's balance sheet and financial position?

2/6

solvency criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

✓

Debt/Eqt

0.4x - 0.8x

0.61xRank 158/280

Range: 0.4x - 0.8xRank 158/280

–

Interest Coverage Ratio

4x - 10x

Rank 205Rank 205/280

Range: 4x - 10xRank 205/280

✓

Net Leverage Ratio

1.0x - 2.5x

1.12xRank 84/280

Range: 1.0x - 2.5xRank 84/280

–

Altman Z-Score (Manufacturing)

<1.10 - >2.99

1.27Rank 219/280

Range: <1.10 - >2.99Rank 219/280

–

Z-Score (Non Manufacturing)

<1.10 - >2.99

Rank 94Rank 94/280

Range: <1.10 - >2.99Rank 94/280

–

CapAdeq Ratio Tier1

N/A

Range: N/A

Key Solvency Metrics

Debt/Eqt

0.61x

Net Leverage Ratio

1.12x

Interest Coverage

Rank 205

T12 FCF Margin

0.0%

Altman Z-Score

1.27

Distress Zone

01.812.995+

5. Asset Efficiency

Score: 17/280

How efficiently does HAYS deploy its assets and intellectual capital?

0/5

asset efficiency criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

Efficiency Ratio

N/A

Range: N/A

✗

TTM Asset Turnover Ratio

0.8x - 1.5x

3.77xRank 2/280

Range: 0.8x - 1.5xRank 2/280

✗

TTM CAPEX/Sales

3 - 8

0.4%Rank 197/280

Range: 3 - 8Rank 197/280

✗

Working Capital Turnover

3x - 8x

29.09xRank 12/280

Range: 3x - 8xRank 12/280

–

R&D/Sales FY27e

2.0 - 5.0

N/A

Range: 2.0 - 5.0

Overall Asset Efficiency Rank

Rank within sector peers#17/280

Best (1)Worst (280)

6. Market Trading

Score: 226/280

How liquid and actively traded is HAYS?

2/2

market trading criteria met

Metric

Sector Range

Value

Rank

✓

Intraday Sentiment (%)

25 - 75

41.0%Rank 151/280

Range: 25 - 75Rank 151/280

–

10D-Avg v/s 3M-Avg Vol

N/A

75%Rank 50/280

Range: N/ARank 50/280

✓

Avg Directional Index 30D

012 - 45

26.7Rank 62/280

Range: 012 - 45Rank 62/280

–

Parabolic SAR

N/A

66.49Rank 274/280

Range: N/ARank 274/280

–

Stock Rating Rank

N/A

Rank 50Rank 50/280

Range: N/ARank 50/280

Market Cap

£1,010,373,161

Enterprise Value

£1,144,007,891

Trading Volume

7. Technical

Score: 183/280

What do the technical indicators say about HAYS?

0/5

technical criteria met

Metric

Chart

Sector Range

Value

Rank

–

CMP v/s 52-WH

£0.78£0.29

-18.1%CMP: £0.64

N/A

-18.1%Rank 196/280

£0.78£0.29

-18.1%CMP: £0.64

Range: N/ARank 196/280

–

CMP v/s 52-WL

£0.78£0.29

+124.0%CMP: £0.64

N/A

124.0%Rank 276/280

£0.78£0.29

+124.0%CMP: £0.64

Range: N/ARank 276/280

–

RSI 14D

047.3 - Bearish100

N/A

47.3Rank 50/280

047.3 - Bearish100

Range: N/ARank 50/280

–

MA50 - MA200

£0.47+0.20£0.67

N/A

BullishRank 133/280

£0.47+0.20£0.67

Range: N/ARank 133/280

–

MACD Rank

Golden Cross

MACD: -0.10

N/A

-0.10

Golden Cross

MACD: -0.10

Range: N/A

RSI (14 Day)

47.3

Bearish

0 (Oversold)50100 (Overbought)

Moving Averages

50 SMA£0.67

200 SMA£0.47

SignalGolden Cross (Bullish)

MACD-0.10

Risk Metrics

Beta

N/A

3-Yr Std Dev

N/A

5-Yr Std Dev

N/A

Peer Comparison

How does HAYS compare to other Industrials stocks?

Overall Rank Comparison

Factor Score Comparison

Stock	Rank	Liquidity	Valuation	Profitability	Solvency	Mkt Trading	Technical
HAYS	#261	158	225	232	167	226	183
RR.L	#6	100	268	87	140	114	40
FAN.L	#12	81	132	29	91	147	142
DPLM.L	#21	8	275	70	94	20	45
RSW.L	#30	22	280	91	32	4	6
EXPN.L	#43	47	241	81	123	79	161
CKN.L	#50	130	250	85	83	14	41

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Methodology Note

The analysis presented for Hays plc is produced using Strategyland's proprietary 7-factor quantitative model, which evaluates each stock across Liquidity, Valuation, Profitability, Solvency, Asset Efficiency, Market Trading, and Technical dimensions. Individual factor scores and the composite rank reflect relative rankings within the FTSE 100 universe — a lower rank number indicates stronger performance in that category.

Underlying financial and market data is sourced from LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) and processed through our scoring engine. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available and should be interpreted as a systematic screening output, not a forecast of future share price performance.

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to buy or sell any security. Past performance and factor rankings are not indicative of future results. Please read our Risk Disclaimer before making any investment decisions.

Strategyland Research Center - strategyland.ukThis report is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice.