Shares in Informa PLC (LSE:INF) rose 5% after the FTSE 100 events and publishing company reported strong first-half results and upgraded its full-year outlook.
Revenue climbed 20.1% to £2.04 billion, slightly above forecasts, while adjusted operating profit rose 24% to £578.9 million, surpassing analyst expectations.
Adjusted earnings per share increased 25.2% to 29.8p, and free cash flow grew 25% to £356.9 million. The company raised its interim dividend by 9.4% to 7p and announced an additional £150 million in share buybacks for the second half of 2025, bringing the total to £350 million.
CEO Stephen Carter highlighted growth across key metrics, including revenues, profits, earnings, and cash flow.
Revenue gains were led by an 8.5% rise in live business-to-business events and 11.9% growth at academic publisher Taylor & Francis.
Informa raised its 2025 revenue growth guidance to approximately 6%, focusing on international expansion and AI-driven efficiency through its Elysia platform.
In the wake of the update, UBS reiterated its 'buy' advice and 910p price target.
The shares rose 43.6p to 869.6p.