YouGov edges past FY26 revenue view and launches £15m buyback

what happened

Newsmetry API reported that revenue at UK research and data group YouGov rose 2% in FY26 to £396.60 million, versus a consensus estimate of £395.07 million. Adjusted pretax profit fell 15% from a year earlier to £41.30 million, below the £42.59 million forecast. Adjusted operating margin was 14%, while operating profit reached £21.20 million and pretax profit was £6.20 million.

YouGov will replace its FY26 dividend with an immediate £15 million share repurchase. For FY27, the company projects adjusted operating profit of £58 million to £61 million, representing year-on-year growth of 7%-12%. It said trading is currently in line with expectations and that 49% of next year’s revenue is already contractually secured.

Revenue growth came from the Data Products and Research divisions. The company attributed the second-half profit improvement to stronger revenue momentum and execution of its Value Delivery Plan. Spending on the Shopper division will remain broadly similar to FY26, with its profit decline reflecting investment in larger panels and a stronger client proposition. The average analyst view is “buy”: six recommendations are “strong buy” or “buy”, with none at “hold”, “sell” or “strong sell”.

why it matters

The median 12-month Wall Street target is GBp370.00, 37.3% above YouGov’s October 12 close of GBp269.40. The shares recently traded at eight times forward earnings, versus seven three months earlier.

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