London, Feb 26, 2026, 09:39 (GMT) — Regular session
- Halma (HLMA.L) up about 1% in early London trade, near the top of its 52-week range
- No fresh company regulatory news since mid-January, leaving the move driven by broader risk appetite
- Traders turn to Halma’s March trading update for the next read on demand, especially photonics
Halma (HLMA.L) shares rose about 1% in early London trade on Thursday, keeping the FTSE 100 safety-technology group near a fresh 52-week high. The stock was up 0.98% at 4,116 pence by 0924 GMT, versus a 4,076 pence close on Wednesday. It traded between 4,074 and 4,124 pence on the day, matching the top end of its past-year range. (Shareprices)
The move keeps Halma pinned at the top of its recent range after a steady grind higher through February. With the next company numbers not due until March, the shares have been trading more on mood than on fresh fundamentals.
European stocks were subdued near record highs on Thursday as investors weighed mixed earnings and kept tech in focus after Nvidia’s upbeat forecast, Reuters reported. Schneider Electric climbed about 3% after it beat earnings expectations on data-centre demand, a reminder of what this market is rewarding. (Reuters)
Halma itself has been quiet on the news front. The company’s last regulatory announcement was on Jan. 13, according to Investegate’s RNS feed. (Investegate)
The stock set a new 52-week high on Tuesday, rising 2.27% to £40.62 even as the FTSE 100 slipped, MarketWatch data showed. Volume was above its 50-day average, the report added. (MarketWatch)
Halma, which makes hazard detection and life-protection equipment, lifted its annual organic revenue growth forecast in November after it reported a surge in half-year profit, helped by U.S. demand for photonics components used in data-centre construction. One large cloud service provider accounted for 19% of group revenue in that period, the company said at the time. (Reuters)
In its half-year report, chief executive Marc Ronchetti said the group made “excellent progress” and upgraded guidance. Organic growth excludes acquisitions; “constant currency” strips out exchange-rate swings. (Halma)
On Halma’s consensus page, analysts see mean revenue of about £2.54 billion and adjusted EBIT of about £563 million for the year ending March 2026, based on forecasts collected late last year. Halma notes the figures exclude a one-off gain booked earlier in the financial year. (Halma)
But the rally has pushed expectations higher. Any slowdown in hyperscaler spending, or a wobble in photonics demand after a burst of data-centre building, could turn this into a profit-taking trade; currency moves are another wild card.
The wider market has been supportive, with the FTSE 100 closing at a record 10,806.41 points on Wednesday on gains in HSBC and miners, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
Next up: Halma is due to publish a trading update on March 12, ahead of its March 31 year-end and full-year results on June 11. Investors will be watching for changes in order trends and any fresh read-through on photonics demand. (Halma)
