London, Feb 17, 2026, 08:52 GMT — Regular session
- Informa stock ticked up roughly 0.7% early in London after the company released its latest buyback update.
- On Feb. 16, the group picked up 271,000 shares at an average price of 827.32p, a filing showed.
- Next up: investors are eyeing the March 12 full-year results as the potential catalyst.
Informa shares picked up roughly 0.7% to 818.8 pence by 0852 GMT in London trading Tuesday, after the company flagged a fresh, modest round of buybacks tied to its 2026 share repurchase plan.
The buyback update lands squarely in focus, with Informa leaning into shareholder payouts as the shares have failed to hold their highs. Full-year results hit next month. For now, investors are left weighing up if cash generation holds up well enough to maintain the buyback’s current speed.
Shares finished Monday off 1.9% at 8.13 pounds, lagging the FTSE 100’s gains. That put the stock at a disadvantage going into Tuesday’s open.
Informa snapped up 271,000 ordinary shares for cancellation on Feb. 16, paying an average 827.32 pence apiece through Deutsche Bank’s London branch, operating as Deutsche Numis. The company stuck to its pledge of at least £200 million in buybacks for 2026. Once the latest purchase settles and those shares are cancelled, Informa’s total shares in issue will drop to 1,283,419,119.
Investors know the drill: with fewer shares out there, earnings per share, or EPS, get a boost. The math works out best if firms snap up stock while prices are down and don’t let borrowing costs spiral.
Informa, a FTSE 100 group, is widely recognized for its business-to-business events, plus digital services and academic publishing. All three lean heavily on corporate marketing budgets and travel outlays, but also on steady demand for research and learning subscriptions.
Tuesday’s session unfolds with the market waiting for the next big event. Informa has its 2025 full-year results lined up for March 12, according to the company’s financial calendar.
The report is set to shape views on 2026 margins and cashflow, extending well beyond top-line revenue. Investors, for their part, want to see exactly how much of the buyback counts as “baseline” and what portion shifts with trading.
Risks remain. Buybacks might prop up a stock when things are calm, but they won’t solve a slowdown in demand. If trading turns rough or management needs to free up cash for debt or investments, the effect can fade fast.
