Experian (LSE:EXPN) does not always grab headlines like the FTSE 100's banks or oil majors. Yet for many UK investors, this Ireland-headquartered, London-listed Credit data and analytics group has become one of the index's most reliable structural growth stories. With its FY25 results showing 8% Revenue growth and the FY26 half-year update upping full-year guidance, Experian's combination of Recurring Revenue and rising Shareholder distributions remains a focal point for those tracking quality compounders on the UK market.

This article walks through Experian's most recent results, share price performance, Dividend record and the broader trends shaping its outlook into 2026.

Key takeaways

  • Experian's FY25 results (year ended 31 March 2025) showed total revenue of around $7.5bn, up 6% on a reported basis and up 8% at constant currency, with organic revenue growth of 7%.
  • At constant currency, Benchmark EBIT grew 11% in FY25, with the company highlighting Margin expansion above its guidance range.
  • For H1 FY26 (six months ended 30 September 2025), Experian reported total revenue up 12% at constant currency, organic revenue up 8%, and Benchmark EBIT up 14%.
  • Experian raised its FY26 full-year guidance to total revenue growth of 11%, organic revenue growth of 8% at the top of the previous range, and margin accretion of +30 to +50 basis points at constant exchange rates.
  • The first Interim Dividend for FY26 was raised 10% to 21.25 US cents per share.
  • Experian shares traded around 2,675p-2,695p in early May 2026 with a Market Capitalisation reported around £23.4bn at the previous close of 2,592p.

Why investors are watching this FTSE 100 stock

Experian is one of the largest global credit bureaux and a major provider of consumer data, Fraud prevention, identity verification, Marketing/">Digital Marketing and analytics services. Its products help banks decide who to lend to, retailers reduce fraud and consumers manage their credit lives. That makes it a relatively defensive, sticky Business once embedded in client workflows.

From a UK investor perspective, Experian is also part of a relatively small group of FTSE 100 names that look more like a global software-and-data company than a traditional UK industrial. Recurring revenue, high gross margins, broad geographic Diversification and a long record of cash generation have helped it command premium multiples relative to many peers in the index.

The recent trading updates have reinforced that pitch. Strong organic growth in H1 FY26, an upward revision to full-year guidance and continued dividend growth all suggest that the underlying business is performing well, particularly in North America and Latin America.

Recent share price performance

A choppy year for a high-multiple stock

Experian's share price has been more volatile over the past year than its underlying business performance might suggest, reflecting both shifts in interest-rate expectations and rotations within the FTSE 100. According to market data, the stock's 52-week range was around 2,353p to 4,101p, with prices in early May 2026 sitting in the mid-2,600p area.

Market cap and rating

At a share price of 2,592p, Experian had a market capitalisation of about £23.4bn at one recent reference point, with later quotes showing prices around 2,675p-2,695p. Although headline multiples can look elevated versus more traditional UK stocks, investors are typically buying a global data and analytics business with higher organic growth than the broader FTSE 100.

A relatively low-Yield, high-growth profile

Compared with many FTSE 100 names, Experian has historically offered a relatively modest Dividend Yield, often below 2% on a trailing basis. The Investment case has typically been more growth-orientated, supported by ongoing dividend increases and a long-running buyback record.

Business performance and Earnings

Experian's FY25 results (year ended 31 March 2025) provided a clear baseline for the current trading year. Annual revenue rose to approximately $7.5bn, up 6% on a reported basis, with constant-currency revenue growth from ongoing activities of 8% and organic revenue growth of 7%. Constant-currency Benchmark EBIT grew 11%, with margin expansion above the company's prior guidance range.

The FY26 H1 update, released in November 2025 and covering the six months to 30 September 2025, showed continued momentum. Total revenue grew 12% at constant currency, organic revenue growth was 8%, and Benchmark EBIT was up 14%. Benchmark Operating Cash Flow rose 25% year on year, with cash conversion of 77%, against 71% in the prior period, and net Debt to Benchmark EBITDA of 1.8x, according to the announcement.

Management used the update to raise FY26 guidance. Experian now expects total revenue growth of 11%, organic revenue growth of 8% (at the top of the prior range), and margin accretion of +30 to +50 basis points, all at constant exchange rates. The company highlighted strong performance from both its Business-to-Business and Consumer Services segments, supported by new product launches, client wins and growing consumer engagement.

Dividends and shareholder returns

Experian has a long record of progressive dividend growth, typically declared in US dollars. The first interim dividend for FY26 was lifted 10% to 21.25 US cents per share, signalling ongoing confidence in cash flow and earnings momentum.

Alongside dividends, the company has periodically deployed Capital into share Buybacks, although the precise size and pace of any future programmes depend on board decisions. UK investors holding the London line should note that dividends are declared in dollars and converted to sterling for UK shareholders, so payments can fluctuate with USD/GBP.

Combined with high cash conversion, this dividend track record has been part of the case for treating Experian as a quality compounder rather than a pure-yield holding.

Valuation and market position

Experian sits in a relatively rare category on the London market: a global, data-rich, recurring-revenue business with diversified geographic exposure. While it competes with other large credit bureaux globally, it has built a strong position in the United States and Brazil in particular, with growing operations across the UK, EMEA and Asia.

That market position helps to underpin its valuation. Investors typically apply higher multiples to businesses with substantial recurring revenue, mid-to-high single-digit organic growth and high cash conversion. However, the trade-off is that any disappointment, either in growth or margin progression, can have an outsized impact on the share price, particularly in periods of rising real interest rates.

Sector trends shaping Experian

A number of structural and cyclical trends could continue to influence Experian:

  • Credit cycle dynamics: Lending volumes, consumer credit applications and Mortgage activity influence Demand for credit bureau and decisioning services in key markets like the US, UK and Brazil.
  • Fraud and identity protection: Rising digital fraud and identity-theft risks continue to drive investment in identity verification and fraud-prevention solutions, an area where Experian has been growing.
  • Open banking and data sharing: Regulatory frameworks for open banking and data portability are reshaping the credit and decisioning landscape across multiple jurisdictions.
  • AI and analytics: The increasing application of Machine Learning to Underwriting, fraud, marketing and verification creates opportunity for differentiation, but also raises the bar for investment in data and technology.
  • Consumer subscription growth: Direct-to-consumer credit and identity products have been a growth area, although they expose the company to Advertising trends and consumer engagement levels.
  • Regulation and privacy: Data protection regulations such as GDPR and similar frameworks in other markets are central to how Experian operates and the products it can offer.

Risks to watch

Some of the key risks investors typically consider for Experian include:

  • Macro and credit cycle risk: A sharp slowdown in lending or consumer credit demand could affect parts of the B2B and consumer businesses.
  • Regulatory and litigation risk: Credit reporting is highly regulated, and there have historically been periodic regulatory and class-action issues across the industry.
  • Data security and privacy: A material breach or significant regulatory action related to data security could affect both reputation and financials.
  • Currency risk: As a US dollar reporter listed in London, FX Volatility can affect both reported results and the GBP value of dividends.
  • Competition and disruption: Other credit bureaux, Fintech players and large technology companies all operate in adjacent or overlapping areas, which could compress pricing or product Economics over time.
  • Premium valuation: High-growth, high-multiple stocks can be more sensitive to changes in interest rates and broader market sentiment.

What to watch in the second half of FY26

With FY26 H1 results showing strong momentum across both segments, attention turns to the second half of the financial year, ending 31 March 2026, and the preliminary results that will follow. Investors are watching whether the company can sustain its 8% organic revenue growth assumption, deliver the +30 to +50 basis points of margin accretion outlined in guidance, and continue to grow Benchmark operating cash flow at a healthy rate.

Specific items investors and analysts often track include performance in North America, where credit and consumer activity contribute significantly to group results, and trends in Brazil, where Experian operates Serasa Experian, a major bureau and consumer credit business. Direct-to-consumer membership growth, fraud prevention adoption and enterprise client wins all also feed into the broader narrative.

On capital allocation, Experian historically combines progressive dividend growth with buybacks and selective acquisitions. Looking forward, UK investors will be paying attention to how the company balances those uses of cash against organic investment in artificial intelligence, data and software, all of which are increasingly important competitive factors.