Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (LSE:BMY) said its full-year results would likely exceed market expectations after a strong first half and 'good trading' in September and October.
For the six months ended August 31, the company, which joined the FTSE 250 over the summer, posted a 32% rise in revenue, reaching £179.8 million, while profit grew by 50% to £26.6 million.
This marks the fifth consecutive period of double-digit growth for the publisher, which credits the success to the implementation of its "Bloomsbury 2030" vision.
The acquisition of Rowman & Littlefield has bolstered Bloomsbury’s academic division, contributing £7.2 million to its revenues.
Bloomsbury's consumer division saw exceptional growth, with revenue increasing by 47% to £131.3 million, driven by the continued popularity of fantasy fiction.
Sarah J. Maas' books saw a sales increase of 102%, while J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series remains a bestseller 27 years after its debut.
In the non-consumer division, revenue grew modestly by 3%, reaching £48.5 million. The academic and professional segments posted top line growth of 6%.
The interim dividend increased by 5% to 3.89p year-over-year but is up 176% compared with 2023.
Chief executive Nigel Newton said: "Bloomsbury's strong results reflect implementation of the recently announced Bloomsbury 2030 vision, focused on our growth, portfolio and people."