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U.K. (FTSE) Professional Services Industry Analysis

UpdatedMar 18, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies35
  • 7D-0.9%
  • 3M-15.7%
  • 1Y-27.7%
  • YTD-14.5%

The Professional Services industry has stayed flat over the last week. Unfortunately though, the industry is down 28% over the past 12 months. Earnings are forecast to grow by 11% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.K. Professional Services Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 18 Mar 2026UK£82.5bUK£33.6bUK£3.5b16.6x23.7x2.5x
Fri, 13 Feb 2026UK£71.5bUK£35.9bUK£3.4b19.7x21.3x2x
Sun, 11 Jan 2026UK£103.0bUK£36.1bUK£3.4b20.9x30.4x2.9x
Tue, 09 Dec 2025UK£97.0bUK£36.1bUK£3.5b19.5x27.6x2.7x
Thu, 06 Nov 2025UK£109.2bUK£35.7bUK£3.3b21.3x32.9x3.1x
Sat, 04 Oct 2025UK£109.9bUK£35.9bUK£3.3b23.4x33.4x3.1x
Mon, 01 Sep 2025UK£112.1bUK£36.0bUK£3.4b21.8x33.4x3.1x
Wed, 30 Jul 2025UK£122.7bUK£36.8bUK£3.5b22.3x35.6x3.3x
Fri, 27 Jun 2025UK£120.4bUK£36.7bUK£3.4b22.1x35.1x3.3x
Sun, 25 May 2025UK£125.1bUK£36.6bUK£3.4b23.6x36.7x3.4x
Tue, 22 Apr 2025UK£118.0bUK£36.5bUK£3.4b21.1x34.4x3.2x
Thu, 20 Mar 2025UK£118.6bUK£37.1bUK£3.5b24.1x34.1x3.2x
Sat, 15 Feb 2025UK£128.3bUK£37.8bUK£3.4b29.4x37.8x3.4x
Mon, 13 Jan 2025UK£120.5bUK£38.0bUK£3.4b23.4x35.6x3.2x
Wed, 11 Dec 2024UK£118.6bUK£37.7bUK£3.3b23.4x36.3x3.1x
Fri, 08 Nov 2024UK£119.4bUK£37.5bUK£3.2b23.7x36.8x3.2x
Sun, 06 Oct 2024UK£117.9bUK£37.4bUK£3.2b23.5x36.5x3.2x
Tue, 03 Sep 2024UK£117.6bUK£37.4bUK£3.2b24x36.6x3.1x
Thu, 01 Aug 2024UK£120.5bUK£38.5bUK£3.2b18.2x37.4x3.1x
Sat, 29 Jun 2024UK£119.7bUK£38.6bUK£3.1b20.5x38.1x3.1x
Mon, 27 May 2024UK£118.7bUK£38.6bUK£3.1b20x37.8x3.1x
Wed, 24 Apr 2024UK£110.9bUK£38.5bUK£3.0b19.6x36.4x2.9x
Fri, 22 Mar 2024UK£114.7bUK£40.5bUK£3.0b19.4x37.7x2.8x
Sun, 18 Feb 2024UK£112.6bUK£41.0bUK£3.3b20.7x34.2x2.7x
Tue, 16 Jan 2024UK£107.2bUK£41.7bUK£3.3b20.2x32.2x2.6x
Thu, 14 Dec 2023UK£106.0bUK£41.7bUK£3.4b20.1x31.5x2.5x
Sat, 11 Nov 2023UK£97.0bUK£41.7bUK£3.3b17.5x29.5x2.3x
Mon, 09 Oct 2023UK£96.8bUK£41.7bUK£3.3b18.8x29.5x2.3x
Wed, 06 Sep 2023UK£92.0bUK£41.5bUK£3.3b19.4x28.2x2.2x
Fri, 04 Aug 2023UK£93.2bUK£41.1bUK£3.4b16.7x27.2x2.3x
Sun, 02 Jul 2023UK£94.4bUK£39.7bUK£3.3b16.3x28.8x2.4x
Tue, 30 May 2023UK£90.9bUK£39.7bUK£3.3b16.8x27.5x2.3x
Thu, 27 Apr 2023UK£93.5bUK£39.6bUK£3.5b16.7x27x2.4x
Sat, 25 Mar 2023UK£91.0bUK£40.3bUK£3.5b16.6x26.3x2.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

26.3x


Total Market Cap: UK£91.0bTotal Earnings: UK£3.5bTotal Revenue: UK£40.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Professional Services Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 32.7x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are pessimistic on the British Professional Services industry, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates will be lower than they have historically.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 23.7x which is lower than its 3-year average PE of 32.7x.
  • The 3-year average PS ratio of 2.8x is higher than the industry's current PS ratio of 2.5x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Professional Services industry have remained mostly flat over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues for these companies have declined 5.9% per year.
  • This means that the cost of doing business could be reducing since sales have declined but profits have remained steady.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.K. Industrials industry?

GB Market-0.46%
Industrials-1.90%
Professional Services-0.94%
Research and Consulting Services-0.84%
HR Services-6.69%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Research and Consulting Services industry even though it's trading below its 3-year average PE ratio of 33.3x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 10.3%, which is higher than its past year's earnings growth of 6.8% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the HR Services industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 71% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 35% per year.
  • In contrast, the Research and Consulting Services industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 10% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
PPHC Public Policy Holding CompanyUK£9.8010.4%
+UK£26.8m		44.1%PS2.1x
SAG Science GroupUK£5.400.9%
+UK£2.0m		31.1%PE6.9x
GTLY Gateley (Holdings)UK£0.731.4%
+UK£1.4m		-46.7%PE22.4x
CTG Christie GroupUK£1.401.8%
+UK£640.7k		36.6%PE14.6x
XCE Connecting Excellence GroupUK£0.01511.1%
+UK£573.2k		n/an/a

Latest News

SAG
UK£5.40
Science Group
7D
0.9%
1Y
31.1%
ITRK
UK£36.70
Intertek Group
7D
-5.0%
1Y
-24.8%
EXPN
UK£27.33
Experian
7D
-1.4%
1Y
-22.3%
CPI
UK£2.47
Capita
7D
-15.7%
1Y
18.0%

CPI: Execution On AI Data Partnerships Will Drive Future Re Rating

Narrative Update on Capita The analyst price target for Capita has been reduced to £3.00 from £4.05. Analysts point to a weaker revenue trajectory, a lower fair value estimate and a higher discount rate, partly offset by an assumed higher future P/E multiple.
PAGE
UK£1.39
PageGroup
7D
-5.2%
1Y
-58.9%
ELIX
UK£6.30
Elixirr International
7D
-7.9%
1Y
-16.0%

ELIX: Rising Dividend And 2025 Revenue Guidance Will Support Further Upside

Analysts have maintained their fair value estimate for Elixirr International at £11.40, making only small adjustments to inputs such as the discount rate and future P/E assumption, which together support this unchanged price target. What's in the News Elixirr International issued earnings guidance for the year ending 31 December 2025, stating that revenue is expected to meet or exceed market expectations of £149 million, with the company attributing this to continued momentum across the Group (Company guidance).
KGH
UK£1.66
Knights Group Holdings
7D
0.3%
1Y
22.5%

KGH: Rising Interim Dividend Will Support Future Rerating Potential

Analysts have kept their fair value view for Knights Group Holdings steady. The refreshed price target in £ terms reflects only minor adjustments to the discount rate and future P/E assumptions, rather than any shift in the core earnings outlook.
REL
UK£25.67
RELX
7D
-1.0%
1Y
-32.4%

REL: AI Resilience And Q4 Execution Will Support Future Multiple Re Rating

Analysts have made a small adjustment to their fair value view on RELX to £37.33. This reflects a slightly higher discount rate, modestly lower revenue growth and profit margin assumptions, and a marginally higher future P/E, alongside mixed but generally steady recent price target updates on the stock.
HAS
UK£0.34
Hays
7D
-9.3%
1Y
-61.1%

HAS: Lowered Expectations Will Support Future Earnings Rebound As Cyclical Pressures Ease

Narrative update on Hays The analyst price target for Hays has moved lower, with recent cuts of £0.06 and £0.10 and a reset to £0.44, as analysts factor in higher required returns, weaker revenue expectations, a different earnings path and a lower assumed future P/E of about 12x for the sector. Analyst Commentary Recent research on Hays has turned more cautious, with multiple firms trimming price targets and one moving to a more negative rating while setting a £0.44 target.
PPHC
UK£9.80
Public Policy Holding Company
7D
10.4%
1Y
44.1%
DATA
UK£0.67
GlobalData
7D
-8.7%
1Y
-56.7%
RTC
UK£1.08
RTC Group
7D
2.4%
1Y
2.4%
GTLY
UK£0.73
Gateley (Holdings)
7D
1.4%
1Y
-46.7%
XCE
UK£0.015
Connecting Excellence Group
7D
11.1%
1Y
n/a
CTG
UK£1.40
Christie Group
7D
1.8%
1Y
36.6%