Informa plc (LON:INF), the international B2B Live Events, B2B Digital Services and Academic Markets Group has published 2025 Full-Year Results, reporting record revenues and adjusted operating profit, and the fifth consecutive year of double-digit adjusted earnings per share growth. In addition, it confirmed £620m cash returns in 2025 and an acceleration in share buybacks in 2026.
Stephen A. Carter, Group Chief Executive, Informa PLC, said:
“The Informa Group delivered an outstanding performance in 2025, delivering double-digit growth in revenues, adjusted earnings per share and cash flow.”
He added: “The Power of Live, the value of proprietary First Party Data, deep international reach and the deployment of AI technology are driving strong customer demand for our specialist Brands, underpinning our confidence in the compounding growth opportunities for Informa.”
Strong Growth in 2025
· Strong Financial Performance:1 Revenue £4,041.4m (2024: £3,553.1m), Adjusted Operating Profit1 £1,139.8m (2024: £995.0m) and Free Cash Flow1 £884.8m (2024: £812.1m);
· Double-Digit Growth:1 Group reported revenue and operating profit growth of 13.7% and 14.6%, respectively, with Group underlying revenue and adjusted operating profit growth of 6.3% and 8.7%, including 9.5% and 12.6% respectively in B2B Live Events;
· Improving Margins:1 Strong underlying revenue growth and focused cost management delivers increase in Adjusted Operating Margin1 to 28.2% (2024: 28.0%);
· Growing Earnings per Share:1 Adjusted diluted earnings per share +11% to 55.6p (2024: 50.1p), the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth (+16% absent FX and non-recurring data contracts);
· Free Cash Flow Strength:1 Operating profit growth and focused cash management delivered 106% operating cashflow conversion and free cash flow of £884.8m, ahead of plan (2024: 812.1m)1;
· Statutory Performance: 2025 reported operating profit of £141.7m (2024: £542.8m) and reported diluted EPS of 0.8p (2024: 22.2p), lower year-on-year due to higher intangible amortisation and the previously reported non-cash impairment of Informa TechTarget.
Compounding Growth in 2026
· The Informa Growth Programme: At Informa’s Capital Markets Day in November 2025, the Group committed to delivering consistent 5%+ underlying revenue growth over the next three years, faster underlying profit growth and 8%+ underlying EPS growth;
· Compounding underlying growth in 2026: We continue to target higher underlying revenue growth in 2026 at 6%±, with B2B Live Events underlying growth of 7%+, alongside double-digit growth in underlying earnings per share (excluding FX movements, biennial phasing and non-recurring data contracts);
· Strong Q1 Performance and Forward Visibility: 2026 is trading to plan, with strong performances by major B2B brands in Healthcare (HIMSS, WHX Dubai, WHX Labs) and Food (Natural Products Expo, Gulfood), as well as robust subscription renewals at Taylor & Francis; Over £2bn of 2026 revenues (45%+ of target) are already paid, booked or committed via recurring exhibitor revenues, subscriptions and forward bookings, pacing ahead of last year on a like-for-like basis;
· Continuing growth in IMEA: We continue to target growth in IMEA in 2026 following a strong opening performance in January/February ($250m± revenue). There is currently some travel disruption in locations directly impacted by military activities but it remains business as usual in others. Around 40% of IMEA revenue for the year has either already traded or relates to Brands within BAU locations and, following successful rescheduling, all of the remaining Brands are due to run or have secured a confirmed option to run in the last four months of the year. We therefore remain fully committed to our 2026 targets and long-term growth opportunities.
Growth & Innovation through 2025-2028 One Informa
· 2025-2028 One Informa: Our four-year programme to maximise the growth and value of our B2B platform is building momentum, including in:
o Brand Value: We continue to extend our brands into growth regions, develop new partnerships in growth categories and use our proprietary first party data to develop new services and additional value e.g. Leap East (Hong Kong), Gitex Kenya;
o AI Acceleration: We are systematically embedding AI into many operating facets of our business to drive productivity, enhance our products, deliver customer benefits and expand our addressable market, building on our strong foundations in proprietary first party data, trusted brands and the unique Power of Live in a digital world e.g. Elysia, Lead Insights;
o Customer Experience: We are leveraging our first party data and digital capabilities to reduce friction and personalise our products and services, connecting our industries more effectively and increasing market impact;
o Data-led Marketing: We are embedding our proprietary first party data deeply into our marketing platforms and go-to-market strategy, delivering more direct, personalised and impactful marketing, driving efficiency and a higher return on investment;
· Academic Markets: Taylor & Francis delivered 3.6% underlying revenue growth in 2025 (excluding non-recurring data access contracts) and we are targeting further momentum in 2026 as we expand our journal portfolio, double down on international sales and target underweight customer segments, including the Corporate market;
· B2B Digital Services: Following a foundational year for Informa TechTarget, the focus for 2026 is to deliver positive growth, leveraging market scale, proprietary first party data, and breadth of product offer, with a particular focus on key customer accounts where the growth opportunities are greatest.
Balance Sheet Strength and Consistent Shareholder Returns
· Balance Sheet Strength: Strong cash generation supported organic investment in One Informa initiatives, as well as a continuing reduction in year-end leverage to 2.4x net debt to adjusted EBITDA;
· Consistent Shareholder Returns: Ordinary dividends of 22.0p per share for 2025, +10% year-on-year, combined with c.£350m of share buybacks, delivering £620m in-year cash returns;
· Accelerating Share Buybacks: The Share Buyback Programme for 2026 started with an initial minimum commitment of £200m. Given the strength of our cashflows and the extent of current equity market dislocation, we are increasing this commitment to £250m, enabling us to increase the rate of share purchases to the daily maximum through to our AGM (subject to safe harbour limits);
· Sustainability…FasterForward: Continuing delivery of FasterForward sustainability strategy, including the Sustainable Events Fundamentals Programme, recognised through inclusion in Dow Jones Sustainability Index for eighth consecutive year, AAA ESG Rating from MSCI and A- CDP Score.
