GlobalData shares plummet as reduces full-year earnings outlook

GlobalData PLC on Monday warned increased investment to boost sluggish revenue growth would result in full-year adjusted earnings missing analyst expectations.

In response, shares in the London-based data analytics and consulting company sank 21% to 56.50 pence each in London on Monday morning, having earlier traded as low as 52.61p.

The FTSE 250-listing now expects full-year underlying revenue growth to be "more muted" than expected, and towards the lower end of the range of analyst expectations of £325.3 million to £335.7 million.

The reduction in the revenue outlook, together with "targeted" investments through the second half will mean margins are "more subdued" than market expectations, the firm said, and in line with the first half adjusted Ebitda margin of 34%, which was up from 33% the year prior.

As a result, the firm expects adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to be below market expectations of £121.0 million to £126.7 million.

In 2025, it achieved revenue of £322.1 million and an adjusted Ebitda of £110.2 million.

"Our immediate priority is to accelerate underlying revenue growth, supported by targeted investment," said Chief Executive Mike Danson.

GlobalData said investments in proprietary data and AI will "enhance the depth, coverage and timeliness of our key datasets" and are focused on improving key performance indicators around client usage and renewal rates.

"Longer term, the investments that we are making now should lead to a positive impact on revenue quality and client renewal rates giving us a stronger foundation for accelerating growth, as well as delivering operational and margin benefits," the company said in a statement.

The firm believes that "investment at this time to support revenue growth is in the best interests of long-term value creation and therefore expects a more cautious recovery in margins in the medium term than previously stated."

In the six months ended June 30, pretax profit declined 6.1% to £23.2 million from £24.7 million the year prior.

Finance costs doubled to £7.7 million from £3.8 million amid "increased bank debt", GlobalData said.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 5.2% to £54.8 million from £52.1 million.

Revenue improved 4.1% to £162.9 million from £156.5 million. On an underlying basis, revenue rose 1%.

This reflected a "challenging" macroeconomic backdrop in which "sales cycles elongated industry-wide, as well as the ongoing embedding of key investments and transformation across the business."

The firm maintained its interim dividend at 0.3 pence per share.

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