Struggling Informa records a substantial £254 million loss, primarily due to currency fluctuations and a spin-off in the US tech sector.
In a surprising turn of events, Informa, a global business intelligence, academic publishing, and events company, has unveiled a fresh £150 million share buyback programme for the second half of the year. Despite a significant £484.2 million non-cash impairment related to TechTarget, the company's tech-focused segment, Informa's shares have seen an unexpected increase.
The robust performance of Informa across its broader business segments—Live B2B Events, B2B Digital Services, and Academic Markets—may be the key to this scenario. Informa reported a 20.1% growth in revenues, adjusted operating profit, and adjusted diluted earnings per share for the period, signalling a strong overall health and growth prospects for the company 1.
Informa's diversified business model also plays a crucial role in mitigating risks from any single segment. The strong growth in other areas likely offsets concerns about TechTarget's performance, as investors view the company's overall strategy as resilient and adaptable 1.
Moreover, Informa's future growth potential, particularly in the global technology vendor market outside the US and tech-driven markets like AutoTech and HealthTech, could attract investors looking beyond short-term figures 2.
The decision to implement £150 million in additional share buybacks and a 9%+ increase in interim dividends may also signal confidence in Informa's financial position and growth trajectory, further boosting investor sentiment 1.
Informa's shares were up 5.7% to 873.4p in early trading, marking a 2025 gain of around 8% for the company's shares 4. The group bought back £200 million in shares at an average price of 757p during the first half 5.
Informa expects momentum to be maintained, upgrading its full-year underlying revenue growth guidance from around 5% to more than 6% 6. The group also anticipates growth of more than 8% in live business-to-business events for the year 7.
However, TechTarget saw a 4.3% decline in underlying revenues during the first half 8. Despite these challenges, Informa TechTarget remains positioned to capture significant opportunities in the global technology vendor market and expand into tech-driven markets.
It's important to note that every cent movement in the US dollar impacts Informa's revenues by around £18 million and adjusted operating profit by roughly £7 million on a full year basis 9.
Informa's tech customers are prioritizing AI-related research and development over investment in product marketing and sales support, which could further shape the company's future growth strategy 10.
For those interested in investing in Informa, several platforms such as AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown, interactive investor, InvestEngine, and Trading 212 offer access to Informa's shares 11.
- As Informa's share buyback programme indicates, the company is demonstrating confidence in its financial position and future growth prospects, an aspect that may appeal to investors interested in technology, finance, and business sectors.
- With Informa's strong growth possibilities in global technology vendor markets and tech-driven sectors like AutoTech and HealthTech, it may attract investors looking beyond short-term figures, making it an interesting choice for those investing in technology.
