Future Share News (FUTR)

(Alliance News) - Future PLC on Thursday said trading in the new financial year so far has been consistent with its expectations, as it guided a full-year outturn in line with consensus estimates,

The Bath, England-based online magazine publisher and owner of price comparison website Go Compare said it is on track to achieve market expectations for the full-year ending September 30, following "broadly as expected trading" in the four months to January 31.

Future noted company compiled analyst consensus for the full-year, inclusive of the SheerLuxe acquisition, is for revenue of GBP745 million and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of GBP224 million.

These figures represent uplifts from GBP739.2 million in revenue and GBP223.4 million in adjusted Ebitda in financial 2025.

Future also cited adjusted earnings per share consensus of 132 pence. Future reported adjusted diluted EPS of 123.0p in financial 2025.

On initial trading, the company said that in B2C, the improvement driven in direct digital advertising revenue in the US and the UK last financial year has continued, and is set to provide year-on-year growth in both markets in the first half.

However, Future said both Programmatic Advertising and eCommerce revenue "remain challenging". The company said this reflects lower audience trends.

It added that Magazines revenue continues to be "highly resilient".

In Go.Compare, Future noted the revenue decline is starting to moderate, notably in car insurance. The segment is currently being impacted by "PPC inflation across the wider market", said Future.

In terms of B2B, Future reported an improvement in revenue in its second quarter, but with varying performance across end markets.

Shares in Future PLC fell 5.8% to 480.20 pence on Thursday morning in London.

Future added that first half leverage is expected to exceed the prior year, owing to dividend payments combined with share buybacks and its recent acquisition of SheerLuxe Ltd. It expects leverage to reduce in the second half, owing to strong cash generation.

Late last month, Future said it acquired UK digital publisher SheerLuxe for GBP40 million.

"We are pleased to confirm we are on track to deliver a full-year performance in line with expectations. In the period, we were delighted to acquire SheerLuxe, which is highly complementary to our portfolio and provides us with multiple avenues to drive the platform effect," said Chief Executive Kevin Li Ying.

"Our focus remains on enhancing the value of our platform by leveraging our brands' market-leading positions, applying a growing set of innovative products for our customers and clients, and continuing to diversify our monetisation routes."

By Christopher Ward, Alliance News reporter

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