London, Feb 1, 2026, 09:11 GMT — Market closed
- Sage shares ended at 957.4p, rising 0.25% following a volatile week
- On Jan. 30, the company repurchased 1.39 million shares as part of its ongoing buyback program
- Investors will focus on the annual meeting along with a vote on the final dividend coming up this week
Sage Group (SGE.L) shares closed Friday at 957.4 pence, rising 0.25% on the day. The UK accounting software firm remains just above its 12-month low and far below last year’s highs. (Hargreaves Lansdown)
Timing is key. The stock has seen sharp moves this week, while buybacks have stood out as one of the rare consistent flows for major UK companies amid shifting sentiment.
It also lays the groundwork for the next session. Investors will be watching to see if Sage maintains its buyback momentum and whether the company can sustain its growth narrative amid cost pressures on small businesses.
Sage bought 1,388,759 ordinary shares on Jan. 30 at a volume-weighted average price of 966.93 pence each, with trades ranging between 957.4 and 976.4 pence. The shares were purchased via Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc as part of the group’s buyback scheme, which runs until no later than March 19, 2026, according to the filing. (Investegate)
The shares have dropped roughly 8% since Monday’s close, despite a modest uptick on Friday. They ended at 1,043 pence on Jan. 26, then fell to 957.4 pence by Jan. 30, according to London trading figures. (MarketScreener)
Sage reported a 10% rise in total revenue to £674 million for the quarter ending Dec. 31, driven by gains across multiple regions and an expanding cloud segment. “Sage delivered a strong start to FY26, with Q1 organic revenue growth accelerating to 10%,” said CFO Jacqui Cartin. The company also confirmed its full-year guidance. (Sage)
“Organic” growth removes currency fluctuations and acquisition impacts. Investors zero in on recurring revenue and annualised recurring revenue (ARR) — a subscription run-rate metric — since it signals if new sales hold steady or fade away.
Some traders will question if the buyback is shouldering most of the load. Repurchases might provide a buffer during tough weeks, but they don’t answer the bigger issue: how steady the demand really is for small-business accounting, payroll, and HR software.
That’s the risk scenario. If customers cut back on spending or churn rises, the market could quickly shift focus away from the buyback and zero in on revenue growth and margins instead.
The next catalyst is near. Sage’s annual general meeting takes place on Feb. 5, where shareholders will vote on a final dividend of 14.40 pence per share. If approved, Sage said the dividend will be paid on Feb. 10.
