Shares of Informa PLC rose 2.2% on Thursday following a trading update that showed 6.4% underlying revenue growth across the first five months of 2026 and a reaffirmation of management's guidance for double-digit adjusted earnings per share growth in 2026.
The company reiterated its expectation of double-digit underlying growth in adjusted EPS this year and said it anticipates stronger growth in 2027 as a four-year programme to expand its B2B growth platform continues to gain momentum. Management pointed to the ongoing build-out of that platform as a driver for improved performance in the year ahead.
These results and the guidance thread into a constructive fundamental narrative that Informa set out at the start of 2026. The company had been targeting underlying revenue growth of around 6% for the year and a sixth consecutive year of double-digit underlying EPS growth, supported by its B2B Live Events division and a growing digital services business.
From a market-wide perspective, Informa's share gain stands out against a risk-off tone across global equities, with major U.S. indices trading lower on the day. The stock's membership of the FTSE 100 means it is measured against the UK large-cap index, and its ability to push higher while wider markets retreated highlights the company-specific nature of the day's positive driver.
Peers such as RELX and Pearson did not report notable developments on the day, leaving Informa's update and corporate actions as the primary catalysts for the move.
In addition to the trading update, continued execution of share buybacks and confirmation of a dividend approval helped provide a near-term boost to sentiment. Those factors, taken together, allowed the stock to trade as high as 865.8p intraday. That level sits above the opening price of 847.4p and comfortably above the 52-week low of 719p, though it remains some distance from the 52-week high of 1,000p.
Contextual note - The company's performance in the early months of 2026 and the reinforcement of its EPS growth targets were the clear drivers investors cited for the share price movement. The update combined top-line progress with shareholder-friendly actions to create a succinct set of near-term catalysts.