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U.K. (FTSE) Media Industry Analysis

UpdatedMay 05, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies26
  • 7D0.4%
  • 3M-6.1%
  • 1Y-11.1%
  • YTD-8.6%

The Media is pretty flat in the last 7 days, but WPP has stood out, gaining 5.7%. As for the longer term, the industry has declined 11% in the last year. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 29% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

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

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Wed, 06 May 2026UK£21.7bUK£32.9b-UK£63,466,136.6614.7x-341.2x0.7x
Fri, 03 Apr 2026UK£20.5bUK£33.0b-UK£62,338,520.9713.9x-328.5x0.6x
Sun, 01 Mar 2026UK£23.1bUK£32.4b-UK£192,553,549.2516x-119.9x0.7x
Tue, 27 Jan 2026UK£24.7bUK£32.9bUK£403.5m15.2x61.1x0.7x
Thu, 25 Dec 2025UK£23.9bUK£33.0bUK£403.7m14.4x59.2x0.7x
Sat, 22 Nov 2025UK£24.0bUK£33.2bUK£416.4m13.8x57.5x0.7x
Mon, 20 Oct 2025UK£24.2bUK£33.1bUK£418.2m13.6x57.9x0.7x
Wed, 17 Sep 2025UK£25.0bUK£33.2bUK£448.5m13.7x55.7x0.8x
Fri, 15 Aug 2025UK£24.7bUK£33.3bUK£482.3m12.8x51.2x0.7x
Sun, 13 Jul 2025UK£24.7bUK£33.7bUK£1.1b11.8x23.5x0.7x
Tue, 10 Jun 2025UK£25.3bUK£33.5bUK£1.1b11.3x24.1x0.8x
Thu, 08 May 2025UK£24.8bUK£33.7bUK£1.1b11.5x23.6x0.7x
Sat, 05 Apr 2025UK£23.2bUK£33.7bUK£1.1b11.4x20.8x0.7x
Mon, 03 Mar 2025UK£27.8bUK£28.3bUK£1.6b12.9x17.4x1x
Wed, 29 Jan 2025UK£29.5bUK£28.8bUK£1.3b16.2x23.1x1x
Fri, 27 Dec 2024UK£30.1bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b15x23.5x1x
Sun, 24 Nov 2024UK£28.9bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b15.1x22.4x1x
Tue, 22 Oct 2024UK£28.2bUK£28.5bUK£1.3b16.7x22x1x
Thu, 19 Sep 2024UK£29.8bUK£28.8bUK£1.3b16.7x23.4x1x
Sat, 17 Aug 2024UK£29.9bUK£28.9bUK£1.3b17.9x23.6x1x
Mon, 15 Jul 2024UK£30.6bUK£28.7bUK£998.3m19.6x30.6x1.1x
Wed, 12 Jun 2024UK£30.5bUK£28.7bUK£999.4m18.8x30.6x1.1x
Fri, 10 May 2024UK£32.1bUK£28.7bUK£997.3m20.3x32.2x1.1x
Sun, 07 Apr 2024UK£30.3bUK£28.7bUK£978.8m21.3x30.9x1.1x
Tue, 05 Mar 2024UK£29.4bUK£28.8bUK£804.7m31.4x36.5x1x
Thu, 01 Feb 2024UK£32.2bUK£29.6bUK£1.2b20.3x27.2x1.1x
Sat, 30 Dec 2023UK£31.9bUK£29.6bUK£1.2b18.2x27x1.1x
Mon, 27 Nov 2023UK£30.3bUK£29.0bUK£1.2b16.4x25.6x1x
Wed, 25 Oct 2023UK£29.1bUK£29.0bUK£1.2b18x24.5x1x
Fri, 22 Sep 2023UK£30.9bUK£28.9bUK£1.2b20.4x26.7x1.1x
Sun, 20 Aug 2023UK£30.1bUK£28.8bUK£1.1b23.6x27.6x1x
Tue, 18 Jul 2023UK£32.3bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b26.3x27.7x1.2x
Thu, 15 Jun 2023UK£32.6bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b45.3x28x1.2x
Sat, 13 May 2023UK£32.9bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b34.5x27.5x1.2x
Price to Earnings Ratio

27.5x


Total Market Cap: UK£32.9bTotal Earnings: UK£1.2bTotal Revenue: UK£27.8bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Media Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 16.3x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are pessimistic on the British Media industry, indicating that they anticipate long term growth rates will be lower than they have historically.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.93x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • Total earnings for the Media industry have declined over the last three years, with the industry now making a loss overall.
  • Meanwhile revenues have grown 5.7% 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 Market0.37%
Telecom1.47%
Media0.40%
Advertising0.85%
Cable and Satellite0%0
Broadcasting-0.11%
Publishing-3.66%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Broadcasting industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 21.2x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 28.9%, which is higher than its past year's earnings decline of 46.1% per year.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Advertising industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 30% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 3.0% per year.
  • In contrast, the Publishing industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 14% 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£2.735.7%
+UK£159.6m		-52.7%PS0.2x
INF InformaUK£8.010.3%
+UK£32.9m		4.3%PE922.3x
ITV ITVUK£0.801.0%
+UK£29.9m		1.5%PE13.7x
SAA M&C SaatchiUK£1.334.3%
+UK£6.6m		-17.1%PS0.5x
YOU YouGovUK£1.902.2%
+UK£4.7m		-36.5%PE18.3x

Latest News

INF
UK£8.01
Informa
7D
0.3%
1Y
4.3%
STVG
UK£1.02
STV Group
7D
-1.9%
1Y
-37.2%

STVG: Higher Future P/E Assumption Will Support Re Rating

Analysts have lifted their price target on STV Group to £7.86 from £3.26, reflecting updated expectations for more moderate revenue growth and profit margins, alongside a higher assumed future P/E multiple. Valuation Changes Fair Value: The £1.8 fair value estimate is unchanged in the updated assumptions.
SAA
UK£1.33
M&C Saatchi
7D
4.3%
1Y
-17.1%
WPP
UK£2.73
WPP
7D
5.7%
1Y
-52.7%
SAL
UK£1.65
SpaceandPeople
7D
-13.2%
1Y
35.8%
SFOR
UK£0.42
S4 Capital
7D
-2.1%
1Y
54.4%

SFOR: Higher Price Objectives And Dividend Proposal Will Support Future Re Rating

Analysts have inched their average price target for S4 Capital higher to about £0.52, citing recent target increases from £0.20 to £0.22 and small upward moves from both Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank as support for a slightly more constructive view on the shares. Analyst Commentary Recent research points to a slightly more constructive tone around S4 Capital, with several bullish analysts adjusting their views in favour of higher price targets and reiterating neutral stances rather than turning more cautious.
ITV
UK£0.80
ITV
7D
1.0%
1Y
1.5%

ITV: Easing Advertising Weakness Will Support Stronger Future Share Repricing

Analysts have nudged ITV's price targets higher, with recent moves such as £0.81 to £0.95 and £0.84 to £0.85. These changes reflect expectations for steadier advertising conditions and modestly improved profitability assumptions.
CAN
UK£2.28
Canal+
7D
-1.3%
1Y
40.3%
PEBB
UK£0.55
Pebble Group
7D
3.8%
1Y
53.5%
FOUR
UK£36.22
4imprint Group
7D
-3.6%
1Y
14.6%
RCH
UK£0.56
Reach
7D
-12.0%
1Y
-22.8%

RCH: Softer Revenue Outlook And Higher Margins Will Shape Future Upside Potential

Analysts have nudged their price target on Reach slightly lower to £0.64, reflecting updated assumptions that include marginally softer revenue growth projections, a slightly adjusted discount rate, and a modestly higher profit margin outlook paired with a small adjustment to the future P/E multiple. Valuation Changes Fair Value: unchanged at £0.64 per share.
NFG
UK£2.41
Next 15 Group
7D
1.3%
1Y
-13.2%

NFG: Analyst Day Outlook And Margin Assumptions Will Support Fair Value Reappraisal

Analysts have slightly reduced their average price target for Next 15 Group to reflect modestly softer revenue expectations, while marginally improved margin and P/E assumptions partly offset this impact, resulting in a small decrease in the implied fair value per share in £ terms. What's in the News Next 15 Group held an Analyst/Investor Day, giving the market a new opportunity to hear directly from management about the business and its outlook for the coming periods (Key Developments).
FUTR
UK£3.30
Future
7D
-2.7%
1Y
-54.0%

FUTR: AI Audience Engine Will Support Multiple Expansion Despite Recent Index Exit

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Future, cutting it by £4.85. They cite a slightly lower fair value estimate, reduced profit margin expectations and several recent downgrades, even as they factor in a modestly lower discount rate and a higher assumed future P/E multiple.
YOU
UK£1.90
YouGov
7D
2.2%
1Y
-36.5%

YOU: Shopper Review And Margin Discipline Will Support Future Share Upside

Analysts have adjusted YouGov's fair value estimate to £3.65 from £4.43, reflecting updated views on revenue growth, profit margins and a lower future P/E multiple following recent changes in Street price targets. Analyst Commentary Recent Street research around YouGov has focused on recalibrating price targets, with one increase of 10 GBp from JPMorgan and two reductions of 20 GBp and 30 GBp from other firms.
BMY
UK£5.98
Bloomsbury Publishing
7D
-4.3%
1Y
-0.7%
NAH
UK£0.36
NAHL Group
7D
18.9%
1Y
-39.2%