Investing IdeasBrowse All StocksMarkets
Have your own idea? Try our Stock Screener
Header cover image

U.K. (FTSE) Media Industry Analysis

UpdatedFeb 24, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies27
  • 7D1.2%
  • 3M-6.8%
  • 1Y-22.0%
  • YTD-5.0%

In the last week, the Media industry is up 1.2%, with WPP leading the way, up 2.2%. In the same time, S4 Capital was down 7.0%. In contrast, the industry has lost 22% in the last 12 months. Earnings are forecast to grow by 27% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the U.K. Media Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Tue, 24 Feb 2026UK£22.6bUK£33.0bUK£403.6m14.5x56.1x0.7x
Thu, 22 Jan 2026UK£24.4bUK£33.0bUK£404.2m14.7x60.4x0.7x
Sat, 20 Dec 2025UK£23.9bUK£33.0bUK£404.4m14.4x59.1x0.7x
Mon, 17 Nov 2025UK£23.9bUK£33.2bUK£415.6m14x57.6x0.7x
Wed, 15 Oct 2025UK£24.3bUK£33.1bUK£418.6m13.9x57.9x0.7x
Fri, 12 Sep 2025UK£25.0bUK£33.2bUK£463.8m12.4x54x0.8x
Sun, 10 Aug 2025UK£24.5bUK£33.4bUK£482.3m12.8x50.9x0.7x
Tue, 08 Jul 2025UK£25.5bUK£33.6bUK£1.1b12.1x24.3x0.8x
Thu, 05 Jun 2025UK£25.6bUK£33.5bUK£1.1b11.2x24.3x0.8x
Sat, 03 May 2025UK£25.0bUK£33.7bUK£1.1b12.4x22.9x0.7x
Mon, 31 Mar 2025UK£26.1bUK£33.6bUK£1.1b11.9x22.8x0.8x
Wed, 26 Feb 2025UK£29.5bUK£28.4bUK£1.3b13.9x23.3x1x
Fri, 24 Jan 2025UK£29.4bUK£28.8bUK£1.3b15.8x23x1x
Sun, 22 Dec 2024UK£30.2bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b15x23.7x1.1x
Tue, 19 Nov 2024UK£28.3bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b15.3x21.9x1x
Thu, 17 Oct 2024UK£28.1bUK£28.5bUK£1.3b17.6x22x1x
Sat, 14 Sep 2024UK£29.9bUK£28.8bUK£1.3b16.8x23.4x1x
Mon, 12 Aug 2024UK£29.2bUK£28.9bUK£1.3b17.7x23x1x
Wed, 10 Jul 2024UK£30.5bUK£28.7bUK£999.8m18.7x30.5x1.1x
Fri, 07 Jun 2024UK£31.4bUK£28.7bUK£999.1m19.7x31.4x1.1x
Sun, 05 May 2024UK£31.0bUK£28.7bUK£994.4m19.1x31.2x1.1x
Tue, 02 Apr 2024UK£30.8bUK£28.7bUK£978.9m21.2x31.5x1.1x
Thu, 29 Feb 2024UK£29.2bUK£28.8bUK£804.9m31.4x36.2x1x
Sat, 27 Jan 2024UK£32.2bUK£29.6bUK£1.2b20.5x27.2x1.1x
Mon, 25 Dec 2023UK£31.8bUK£29.6bUK£1.2b18x26.8x1.1x
Wed, 22 Nov 2023UK£30.2bUK£29.0bUK£1.2b17.2x25.5x1x
Fri, 20 Oct 2023UK£29.1bUK£29.0bUK£1.2b17.6x24.5x1x
Sun, 17 Sep 2023UK£31.4bUK£28.8bUK£1.1b20.5x28.7x1.1x
Tue, 15 Aug 2023UK£31.4bUK£28.8bUK£1.1b24.5x28.5x1.1x
Thu, 13 Jul 2023UK£32.2bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b33.5x27.7x1.2x
Sat, 10 Jun 2023UK£32.6bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b47.4x28x1.2x
Mon, 08 May 2023UK£33.2bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b35.1x27.7x1.2x
Wed, 05 Apr 2023UK£33.9bUK£27.7bUK£1.2b25.2x29.5x1.2x
Fri, 03 Mar 2023UK£35.9bUK£27.2bUK£1.4b16.8x26x1.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

26x


Total Market Cap: UK£35.9bTotal Earnings: UK£1.4bTotal Revenue: UK£27.2bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Media Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 32.1x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the British Media industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 56.1x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 32.1x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.97x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Media industry have declined 34% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues for these companies have grown 6.6% per year.
  • This means that although more sales are being generated, either the cost of doing business or the level of investment back into businesses has increased, which has decreased profits.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the U.K. Telecom industry?

GB Market1.89%
Telecom1.89%
Media1.17%
Publishing2.44%
Broadcasting1.59%
Advertising0.93%
Cable and Satellite0%0
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Advertising industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 47.7x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 24.6%, which is higher than its past year's earnings growth of 5.9% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Publishing industry, which is trading below its 3-year average of 14.7x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Broadcasting industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 37% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 57% per year.
  • In contrast, the Publishing industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 9.2% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
WPP WPPUK£2.702.2%
+UK£63.3m		-64.5%PE7.6x
CAN Canal+UK£2.992.1%
+UK£60.8m		61.5%PS0.5x
INF InformaUK£8.170.6%
+UK£49.9m		-5.9%PE143x
ITV ITVUK£0.801.1%
+UK£31.7m		5.9%PE16x
FOUR 4imprint GroupUK£39.052.1%
+UK£22.5m		-26.3%PE12.6x

Latest News

INF
UK£8.17
Informa
7D
0.6%
1Y
-5.9%

INF: Future Returns Will Be Anchored By Buybacks And Higher P/E Expectations

Analysts have made only modest adjustments to Informa's targets, with one increasing the price target to £10.80 and another trimming theirs to £13.30. This reflects mixed views that balance slightly higher revenue growth assumptions with marginally lower profit margin expectations and a higher future P/E.
FUTR
UK£4.10
Future
7D
2.7%
1Y
-58.8%

FUTR: Dividend And Medium Term Guidance Will Support Further Upside

Analysts have trimmed their fair value estimate for Future from £11.68 to £10.34, reflecting updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and a lower future P/E multiple. What's in the News Future issued earnings guidance for fiscal year 2026, indicating expectations for modest organic revenue growth in line with current consensus, with a medium term target for sustainable revenue growth of 2 to 4% (company guidance).
YOU
UK£2.01
YouGov
7D
-0.5%
1Y
-48.3%

YOU: Overweight Rating And Dividend Are Expected To Support Repricing

Analysts have trimmed their price target on YouGov slightly to £3.80 from £3.85, citing updated assumptions around discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins and future P/E multiples. Analyst Commentary JPMorgan's move to trim its price target on YouGov to £3.80 from £3.85 is relatively small, which suggests its core view on the company and its valuation framework remains broadly intact.
WPP
UK£2.70
WPP
7D
2.2%
1Y
-64.5%

WPP: AI Uncertainty And Restructuring Will Support Long-Term Share Re-Rating

Analysts have reduced their fair value estimate for WPP, with the average price target moving to £3.65. This reflects more cautious assumptions on revenue growth and the discount rate, while maintaining a broadly neutral stance on the shares.
STVG
UK£1.10
STV Group
7D
-3.5%
1Y
-43.3%

STVG: 2025 Revenue Guidance Will Underpin Constructive View On Future Earnings

Analysts have lowered their price target for STV Group from £1.63 to £1.42, citing more conservative revenue growth assumptions, reduced profit margin expectations and a higher future P/E multiple in their updated valuation analysis. What's in the News STV Group issued earnings guidance for the year ending December 31, 2025, giving investors a clearer view of expected financial performance.
SFOR
UK£0.21
S4 Capital
7D
-7.0%
1Y
-33.9%

SFOR: Fair Outlook Balances Tougher 2025 Revenue Guidance With Refined Expectations

S4 Capital's fair value estimate has edged up to £0.209 per share, with analysts citing recently higher price targets around £0.22, along with slightly adjusted assumptions for the discount rate, revenue decline and future P/E. Analyst Commentary Street research around S4 Capital has been mixed, with some price targets edging higher while others have been trimmed.
ITV
UK£0.80
ITV
7D
1.1%
1Y
5.9%

ITV: Higher Margin Outlook Will Support Stronger Future Share Appeal

Analysts have adjusted their price target on ITV to £1.03, with the change linked to updated assumptions on the discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin and future P/E expectations. Valuation Changes Fair Value: £1.03 is unchanged, indicating no adjustment to the central valuation estimate.
NFG
UK£3.08
Next 15 Group
7D
2.5%
1Y
1.0%

NFG: Analyst Day Insights Will Support Earnings Quality Reappraisal

Analysts have reduced their price target for Next 15 Group to £5.10 from £5.80, reflecting a lower fair value estimate based on updated assumptions for revenue, profit margins and a slightly higher future P/E multiple. What's in the News Next 15 Group held an Analyst/Investor Day, giving the market a fresh look at management's priorities and medium term focus areas (Key Developments).
BMY
UK£4.52
Bloomsbury Publishing
7D
3.1%
1Y
-29.8%

What Bloomsbury Publishing Plc's (LON:BMY) P/E Is Not Telling You

Feb 07
What Bloomsbury Publishing Plc's (LON:BMY) P/E Is Not Telling You
EBQ
UK£0.13
Ebiquity
7D
-1.2%
1Y
-45.3%
CAN
UK£2.99
Canal+
7D
2.1%
1Y
61.5%
FOUR
UK£39.05
4imprint Group
7D
2.1%
1Y
-26.3%
SYS1
UK£2.01
System1 Group
7D
-1.5%
1Y
-67.0%
SAA
UK£1.26
M&C Saatchi
7D
-1.2%
1Y
-29.9%
TMO
UK£0.086
Time Out Group
7D
-0.6%
1Y
-79.1%
NAH
UK£0.34
NAHL Group
7D
-5.3%
1Y
-50.3%

NAHL Group (LON:NAH) Is Doing The Right Things To Multiply Its Share Price

Dec 11
NAHL Group (LON:NAH) Is Doing The Right Things To Multiply Its Share Price