Informa keeps earnings view but trims sales amid Saudi events scramble

Informa PLC on Tuesday retained full-year earnings guidance but said sales growth will be lower than expected due to disruption to events in the Middle East.

Shares in the London-based business information and exhibitions group were down 0.1% to 832.60 pence each in London on Tuesday morning. However, they had earlier traded as low as 811.80p. The stock is down 13% over the past 12 months.

Informa reported underlying revenue growth of 6.5% in the nine months to September 30, excluding non-recurring data contracts, driven by an 8.0% increase in its B2B Live Events division. Elsewhere, Academic Markets revenue rose 4.0%, but Informa TechTarget revenue fell 1.6%, both on the same basis.

The events organiser maintained its guidance for double-digit underlying earnings growth in 2026 from a 49 pence base in 2025, despite disruption in the Middle East, but said full-year underlying revenue growth is now tracking towards around 3.0%, down from its previous expectation of around 6.0%. This assumes no further contribution from Saudi Arabia this year. Informa reported revenue of £4.04 billion in 2025.

The revised outlook follows further event rescheduling in Saudi Arabia, including Cityscape Global and the Global Health Exhibition, Informa explained.

Chief Executive Stephen Carter said: "Strong underlying demand for B2B Live Events, combined with the strength of our Brands and operating flexibility, is enabling us to deliver consistent growth and performance, and our international breadth is limiting the impact of specific in-market disruptions."

Informa said it expects to complete its acquisition of Clarion Events in the first two weeks of December. The £2.24 billion deal to buy Clarion, the UK-based owner of more than 100 B2B live event brands, was announced earlier this month.

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