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U.K. (FTSE) Media Industry Analysis

UpdatedJan 15, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies27
  • 7D-0.7%
  • 3M-0.2%
  • 1Y-13.1%
  • YTD1.4%

Last week, the Media industry hasn't moved much but 4imprint Group is up 7.2% in that time. As for the longer term, the industry has declined 13% in the last year. Looking forward, 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
Thu, 15 Jan 2026UK£24.2bUK£32.9bUK£404.6m14.9x59.8x0.7x
Sat, 13 Dec 2025UK£23.9bUK£33.1bUK£397.9m14.3x60.2x0.7x
Mon, 10 Nov 2025UK£24.1bUK£33.2bUK£416.1m13.5x58x0.7x
Wed, 08 Oct 2025UK£24.9bUK£33.1bUK£406.1m14.1x61.4x0.8x
Fri, 05 Sep 2025UK£25.0bUK£33.3bUK£464.4m12.2x53.9x0.8x
Sun, 03 Aug 2025UK£25.0bUK£34.0bUK£643.0m13.2x38.9x0.7x
Tue, 01 Jul 2025UK£25.6bUK£33.6bUK£1.1b12.5x24.4x0.8x
Thu, 29 May 2025UK£25.8bUK£33.5bUK£1.1b12.6x24.5x0.8x
Sat, 26 Apr 2025UK£24.0bUK£33.7bUK£1.1b11.8x22x0.7x
Mon, 24 Mar 2025UK£26.4bUK£33.8bUK£1.4b12.1x18.3x0.8x
Wed, 19 Feb 2025UK£30.9bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b16x24.3x1.1x
Fri, 17 Jan 2025UK£29.2bUK£28.8bUK£1.3b14.9x22.8x1x
Sun, 15 Dec 2024UK£29.5bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b15.3x23.1x1x
Tue, 12 Nov 2024UK£28.8bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b15.8x22.6x1x
Thu, 10 Oct 2024UK£28.4bUK£28.5bUK£1.3b17.6x22.2x1x
Sat, 07 Sep 2024UK£29.5bUK£28.8bUK£1.3b17x23.2x1x
Mon, 05 Aug 2024UK£30.2bUK£28.8bUK£1.2b19.4x25.7x1x
Wed, 03 Jul 2024UK£29.8bUK£28.7bUK£999.7m18.2x29.8x1x
Fri, 31 May 2024UK£31.9bUK£28.6bUK£985.3m22.5x32.4x1.1x
Sun, 28 Apr 2024UK£30.7bUK£28.7bUK£993.3m20.8x30.9x1.1x
Tue, 26 Mar 2024UK£30.7bUK£28.8bUK£899.6m20.9x34.2x1.1x
Thu, 22 Feb 2024UK£30.2bUK£28.9bUK£1.2b20.5x24.5x1x
Sat, 20 Jan 2024UK£30.8bUK£29.6bUK£1.2b19.3x26x1x
Mon, 18 Dec 2023UK£31.3bUK£29.6bUK£1.2b18x26.4x1.1x
Wed, 15 Nov 2023UK£30.2bUK£29.0bUK£1.2b17.6x25.5x1x
Fri, 13 Oct 2023UK£30.3bUK£29.0bUK£1.2b19.4x25.6x1x
Sun, 10 Sep 2023UK£30.8bUK£28.8bUK£1.1b24.6x28.1x1.1x
Tue, 08 Aug 2023UK£32.2bUK£28.7bUK£1.1b26.5x29.5x1.1x
Thu, 06 Jul 2023UK£32.0bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b32.2x27.4x1.1x
Sat, 03 Jun 2023UK£32.6bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b41x27.9x1.2x
Mon, 01 May 2023UK£34.2bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b34.7x28.6x1.2x
Wed, 29 Mar 2023UK£33.4bUK£27.4bUK£1.2b21.2x27.2x1.2x
Fri, 24 Feb 2023UK£36.5bUK£26.2bUK£1.3b17.5x27.2x1.4x
Sun, 22 Jan 2023UK£34.0bUK£26.1bUK£1.3b14.9x25.4x1.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

25.4x


Total Market Cap: UK£34.0bTotal Earnings: UK£1.3bTotal Revenue: UK£26.1bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Media Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 31x202420252026
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 59.8x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 31.0x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.99x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Media industry have declined 33% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues for these companies have grown 8.0% 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 Market1.35%
Telecom0.49%
Media-0.67%
Publishing1.42%
Cable and Satellite0%0
Advertising-0.65%
Broadcasting-1.14%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Advertising industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 45.8x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 23.4%, 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 15.2x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Broadcasting industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 41% 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 16% 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
FOUR 4imprint GroupUK£43.8010.2%
+UK£113.7m		-15.0%PE14x
INF InformaUK£8.960.6%
+UK£68.1m		9.5%PE157.2x
ITV ITVUK£0.811.5%
+UK£44.8m		13.6%PE16.3x
BMY Bloomsbury PublishingUK£5.096.5%
+UK£25.3m		-20.5%PE18.4x
NFG Next 15 GroupUK£3.553.8%
+UK£13.1m		1.3%PE22.6x

Latest News

PEBB
UK£0.47
Pebble Group
7D
13.7%
1Y
-1.7%
EYE
UK£3.05
Eagle Eye Solutions Group
7D
8.9%
1Y
-19.7%
RCH
UK£0.56
Reach
7D
0.7%
1Y
-23.7%

RCH: Cost Savings And Resilient Print Will Support Future Upside

Analysts have maintained their price target for Reach at £0.68, noting only minor changes to assumptions on discount rate, revenue trajectory and profit margins, which they believe offset each other at this stage. What's in the News Reach set earnings guidance for 2025, highlighting three key priorities and stating that management remains confident about the company’s future (Key Developments).
FUTR
UK£5.11
Future
7D
-2.4%
1Y
-43.1%

FUTR: Dividend Policy And Medium Term Framework Will Support Further Upside

Analysts have adjusted their price target for Future slightly higher to reflect updated assumptions around discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins, and a modestly higher future P/E multiple, while keeping their view of fair value per share unchanged at about $11.68. What's in the News Board proposes a final dividend of 17.0 pence per share for the year ended 30 September 2025, subject to shareholder approval at the AGM, with payment expected on 11 February 2026 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 16 January 2026 (Key Developments).
NFG
UK£3.55
Next 15 Group
7D
3.8%
1Y
1.3%

NFG: Higher Profit Margin Assumptions May Support Future Bullish Rerating

Analysts have lowered their price targets on Next 15 Group slightly, reflecting marginally softer revenue expectations, a modestly higher discount rate, and only a minor adjustment to the forward P/E used in their models, while still maintaining a broadly similar view of fair value in £ terms. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Analyst fair value estimate remains unchanged at £4.35, indicating no material shift in their central valuation outcome.
INF
UK£8.96
Informa
7D
0.6%
1Y
9.5%

Is Informa plc (LON:INF) Trading At A 48% Discount?

Jan 10
Is Informa plc (LON:INF) Trading At A 48% Discount?
FOUR
UK£43.80
4imprint Group
7D
10.2%
1Y
-15.0%
WPP
UK£3.22
WPP
7D
-5.0%
1Y
-55.9%

WPP: Prolonged Turnaround Will Likely Pressure Balance Sheet Despite Deal Speculation

Analysts have trimmed their average price targets for WPP, with reductions such as £5.50 to £5.10 and £4.20 to £3.60. These changes reflect updated views on the company’s prolonged turnaround, balance sheet needs, and uncertainty around potential corporate interest in the group or its assets.
STVG
UK£1.14
STV Group
7D
-2.4%
1Y
-43.7%

STVG: Higher Margin Outlook Will Support Future Re Rating Potential

Analysts have lowered their price target for STV Group to £1.66 from £2.45, citing updated assumptions that combine a lower P/E multiple and more cautious revenue growth with a higher profit margin outlook and reduced discount rate. Valuation Changes Fair Value: price target adjusted from £2.45 to £1.66, reflecting a significantly lower implied valuation level.
SFOR
UK£0.20
S4 Capital
7D
-3.1%
1Y
-38.2%

What S4 Capital plc's (LON:SFOR) 34% Share Price Gain Is Not Telling You

Jan 08
What S4 Capital plc's (LON:SFOR) 34% Share Price Gain Is Not Telling You
ITV
UK£0.81
ITV
7D
1.5%
1Y
13.6%

ITV: Broadcast Unit Talks And Rating Support Will Shape Risk Balance

Analysts have trimmed their price target for ITV to £1.05 from £1.12, citing updated assumptions around discount rates, revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E multiples. Analyst Commentary Bullish Takeaways Bullish analysts highlight that even after the cut, a price target of £1.05 still sits above the current target level of £1.05 previously used, signalling continued confidence that ITV can support a higher valuation over time.
NEWS
UK£0.30
Pathos Communications
7D
-7.7%
1Y
n/a
CAN
UK£2.71
Canal+
7D
-0.1%
1Y
38.6%

There Are Reasons To Feel Uneasy About Canal+'s (LON:CAN) Returns On Capital

Dec 24
There Are Reasons To Feel Uneasy About Canal+'s (LON:CAN) Returns On Capital
SAA
UK£1.23
M&C Saatchi
7D
-7.5%
1Y
-30.8%
TIG
UK£0.48
Team Internet Group
7D
-1.8%
1Y
-53.8%
BMY
UK£5.09
Bloomsbury Publishing
7D
6.5%
1Y
-20.5%