LONDON, August 18, 2026, 09:55 BST — London cash markets began the session.
- The two recently announced ACOTAR books have a combined length of 1,280 pages and will be released 77 days apart.
- The consensus for fiscal 2027 points to an 8.7% rise in revenue and an 11.1% increase in adjusted profit.
- The 928-page second volume is released 47 days ahead of Bloomsbury’s fiscal year-end.
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc LON:BMY began Tuesday’s trading following the public reveal of two new ACOTAR books and their covers. The 77-day window between releases pulls a significant sales driver into a single fiscal period.
The timing holds greater significance than the cover reveal. Existing forecasts for fiscal 2027 expect adjusted profit to increase by 11.1%, outpacing revenue growth.
Searches on Google for “ACOTAR books” surpassed 50,000, with activity continuing into early Tuesday. The increase in interest came after Sarah J. Maas announced the news on August 17. Google Trends
| Release | Publication date | Reported pages | Fiscal timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Court of Splintered Harmony | October 27, 2026 | 352 | 124 days left in fiscal year |
| A Court of Forgotten Melody | January 12, 2027 | 928 | 47 days remain before year-end |
| Combined | 77 days between releases | 1,280 | Both counted in fiscal 2027 |
The second book accounts for 72.5% of the stated total pages. It is 2.6 times the length of the October release. While page totals do not directly represent revenue, they increase January’s significance in the rollout strategy.
Bloomsbury previously raised its outlook after the dates were revealed in March. Chief Executive Nigel Newton described the two-book series as “almost unprecedented in publishing history.” Bloomsbury
| Metric | Fiscal 2026 actual | Fiscal 2027 consensus | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | £325.9 million | £354.2 million | +8.7% |
| Adjusted profit before tax | £44.9 million | £49.9 million | +11.1% |
| Adjusted margin | 13.78% | 14.09% | +31 basis points |
July’s consensus stands above the £44.5 million figure set in March. Bloomsbury reported that trading over the initial four months was consistent with record profit levels and noted outstanding preorders for major titles.
The base gives a mixed picture. Consumer revenue for fiscal 2026 declined by 21.4% to £218.2 million, following a robust previous period. Adjusted profit from the consumer segment decreased 32.3% to £20.5 million.
Academic publishing helped limit the decline. Group adjusted profit increased by 7% to £44.9 million, and net cash climbed to £29.2 million.
| Share metric | Latest verified figure | Investor read-through |
|---|---|---|
| Closing price | 664p on August 14 | 3.8% under 52-week high |
| Market value | £541.9 million | 10.9 times projected 2027 adjusted pre-tax profit |
| Trailing adjusted P/E | 14.9 times | Reflects 44.57p 2026 adjusted EPS |
| Dividend yield | 2.44% | Calculated on 16.20p 2026 dividend |
Bloomsbury’s 664p closing price came before the announcement of Monday’s title. At that level, the company was trading at 14.9 times its previous adjusted earnings and offered a 2.44% dividend yield.
Analyst coverage is limited but maintains a favorable outlook. Three firms under coverage rate the stock as Buy, and their target prices suggest potential gains ranging from 14.5% to 24.2% above 664p.
| Broker | Latest tracked date | Recommendation | Target | Upside from 664p |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berenberg | July 15, 2026 | Buy | 825p | 24.2% |
| Deutsche Bank | May 29, 2026 | Buy | 760p | 14.5% |
| Peel Hunt | September 18, 2025 | Buy | 815p | 22.7% |
| Consensus | Three analysts | Buy | 800p | 20.5% |
The targets were set before the final titles. As they already reflect the two-book timeline, they do not provide a clear gauge of added value.
Risks: There is a possibility that preorders might not translate into complete sales, while printing expenses could increase. January sales face a 47-day window to contribute to fiscal 2027. A limited pool of authors heightens fluctuations in release schedules.
The next key challenge will be the interim report in October. Investors are looking for proof that preorder momentum can boost margins ahead of the higher volumes expected in January.
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