How Is Informa Plc (LSE:INF) Trading Today?

Informa Plc (LSE:INF) shares eased 0.43% to around 878.8p today, after the B2B events and academic markets group reaffirmed that 2026 is on track for underlying Revenue growth of more than 6% and double-digit underlying growth in adjusted earnings per share.

In its AGM update in June, the group reported underlying revenue growth of 6.4% in the first five months, with B2B Live Events growing 7% and Taylor & Francis growing 5.5% excluding non-recurring data access contracts.

Management said it expects faster growth in 2027, supported by a full Brand schedule and forward bookings.

About Informa Plc

Informa is an international group operating B2B live events, B2B digital services and academic markets. Its events platform spans around 1,000 brands in 40 markets and 30 countries, hosting more than nine million attendees and 220,000 exhibitors each year.

Its brands include HIMSS in healthcare, Gulfood and Vitafoods in food, Cosmoprof in beauty, SuperReturn and Money20/20 in finance, and Taylor & Francis in academic publishing.

LSE:INF therefore offers exposure to Business events, specialist markets and knowledge services.

Informa's events connect buyers and sellers in specialist industries, giving exhibitors access to customers and giving attendees access to products, ideas and networks. The academic business, Taylor & Francis, publishes journals and books and offers digital services for scholars and learners.

2026 Trading

Healthcare, food, beauty and aesthetics, and finance events delivered growth, and the group invested in repositioning its gaming brands. Group revenues of $4 billion or more are traded, booked or visible for the full year through subscriptions, recurring revenues and forward booked contracts.

By early October, more than £1 billion of Q4 revenue was booked and committed, with B2B Live Events growth guided at 7% or more and Academic Markets at around 4% excluding non-recurring contracts.

Academic Markets continued to benefit from subscriptions, open access publishing and advanced learning, supported by consistent Demand from universities and libraries. Underlying revenue growth in the first half was 6.8%, reflecting a good start in both of the group's main businesses.

2027 Visibility

For the first half of 2027, forward revenues of more than $0.6 billion are booked or confirmed, with annual and biennial brands pacing to deliver growth. The group expects 2027 to be an up year because roughly £100 million of biennial revenue returns to the calendar.

Annual events are expected to grow underlying revenue by around 10% or more in 2027, and the group has said earnings growth will be higher than in 2026.

Growth Programme and Strategy

At its Capital Markets Day in November 2025, Informa committed to delivering consistent underlying revenue growth of 5% or more over the next three years, with faster Underlying Profit growth and adjusted EPS growth of 8% or more. For 2025, revenues were £4.0 billion or more, with adjusted EPS of around 55.5p.

A four-year One Informa programme is focused on data-led marketing, customer experience, group-wide deployment of artificial intelligence and efficiency.

Balance Sheet and Returns

A £250 million share buyback programme is ongoing, and the group completed a significantly over-subscribed €500 million six-year Eurobond, extending its weighted average Debt Maturity to 4.3 years. A 2025 ordinary Dividend of 22p per share was proposed.

The group's capital allocation priorities include investing in organic growth, bolt-on acquisitions and returning surplus cash to shareholders.

Growth Catalysts

Possible catalysts for LSE:INF include growth in exhibitor and attendee numbers, new event launches, expansion in the Middle East and Asia, digital services that extend engagement beyond the show floor, and academic subscriptions and advanced learning. Product innovation and the use of data may deepen customer relationships.

Venue partnerships and international expansion provide further avenues for the live events platform.

The group has highlighted the potential of data-led marketing, which helps exhibitors and organisers identify and engage the right customers before, during and after events. The use of artificial intelligence across the group is intended to improve productivity and customer experience.

Factors to Monitor

Results are influenced by event timing, travel patterns, currency movements and the economic cycle. Biennial events can alter comparisons between years.

Investors typically follow underlying revenue growth, booked revenues, margins and cash generation.

Conclusion

Informa's 0.43% move to around 878.8p today follows reaffirmed 2026 guidance, good forward visibility and an ongoing £250 million buyback.

Live events, academic markets, forward bookings and capital returns remain the central themes for LSE:INF.

For those following LSE:INF, full-year results will provide the next full picture of delivery against the group's growth programme.