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

U.K. (FTSE) Media Industry Analysis

UpdatedFeb 26, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies27
  • 7D-0.2%
  • 3M-6.9%
  • 1Y-21.0%
  • YTD-4.4%

Over the last 7 days, the Media industry has remained flat, although notably WPP gained 3.1%. As for the longer term, the industry has declined 21% 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, 26 Feb 2026UK£22.8bUK£32.9bUK£403.8m14.4x56.4x0.7x
Sat, 24 Jan 2026UK£24.6bUK£32.9bUK£404.1m15.1x60.9x0.7x
Mon, 22 Dec 2025UK£23.9bUK£33.0bUK£404.1m14.4x59.1x0.7x
Wed, 19 Nov 2025UK£23.7bUK£33.2bUK£416.0m13.6x57.1x0.7x
Fri, 17 Oct 2025UK£24.4bUK£33.1bUK£418.1m13.6x58.3x0.7x
Sun, 14 Sep 2025UK£25.1bUK£33.2bUK£463.8m12.4x54x0.8x
Tue, 12 Aug 2025UK£24.5bUK£33.3bUK£482.5m13x50.7x0.7x
Thu, 10 Jul 2025UK£24.6bUK£33.7bUK£1.1b12.1x23.4x0.7x
Sat, 07 Jun 2025UK£25.4bUK£33.5bUK£1.1b11.1x24.2x0.8x
Mon, 05 May 2025UK£25.0bUK£33.7bUK£1.1b12.4x22.9x0.7x
Wed, 02 Apr 2025UK£25.0bUK£33.6bUK£1.1b12.2x22.4x0.7x
Fri, 28 Feb 2025UK£27.9bUK£28.3bUK£1.6b13.2x17.4x1x
Sun, 26 Jan 2025UK£29.5bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b16.2x23.1x1x
Tue, 24 Dec 2024UK£30.0bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b14.8x23.5x1x
Thu, 21 Nov 2024UK£28.0bUK£28.7bUK£1.3b15x21.7x1x
Sat, 19 Oct 2024UK£28.5bUK£28.5bUK£1.3b17.4x22.2x1x
Mon, 16 Sep 2024UK£29.9bUK£28.8bUK£1.3b16.8x23.4x1x
Wed, 14 Aug 2024UK£29.3bUK£28.9bUK£1.3b17.5x23.1x1x
Fri, 12 Jul 2024UK£30.5bUK£28.7bUK£998.9m19.1x30.6x1.1x
Sun, 09 Jun 2024UK£31.2bUK£28.7bUK£999.6m19.5x31.2x1.1x
Tue, 07 May 2024UK£31.0bUK£28.7bUK£997.7m19.1x31.1x1.1x
Thu, 04 Apr 2024UK£30.4bUK£28.7bUK£978.6m21.1x31.1x1.1x
Sat, 02 Mar 2024UK£29.7bUK£28.8bUK£804.9m31.4x36.9x1x
Mon, 29 Jan 2024UK£32.2bUK£29.6bUK£1.2b20.5x27.2x1.1x
Wed, 27 Dec 2023UK£31.8bUK£29.6bUK£1.2b18x26.8x1.1x
Fri, 24 Nov 2023UK£30.3bUK£29.0bUK£1.2b16.4x25.6x1x
Sun, 22 Oct 2023UK£28.6bUK£29.0bUK£1.2b18x24.1x1x
Tue, 19 Sep 2023UK£30.7bUK£28.9bUK£1.2b20.3x26.5x1.1x
Thu, 17 Aug 2023UK£30.7bUK£28.8bUK£1.1b24.1x27.9x1.1x
Sat, 15 Jul 2023UK£32.4bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b33.7x27.8x1.2x
Mon, 12 Jun 2023UK£32.7bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b47.4x28x1.2x
Wed, 10 May 2023UK£33.2bUK£27.8bUK£1.2b35.1x27.8x1.2x
Fri, 07 Apr 2023UK£33.4bUK£27.7bUK£1.1b25.2x29.6x1.2x
Sun, 05 Mar 2023UK£36.1bUK£27.3bUK£1.3b16.8x27x1.3x
Price to Earnings Ratio

27x


Total Market Cap: UK£36.1bTotal Earnings: UK£1.3bTotal Revenue: UK£27.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
U.K. Media Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 32.2x202420252026
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 56.0x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 32.2x.
  • 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 33% per year over the last three years.
  • Meanwhile revenues for these companies have grown 6.4% 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 Market1.13%
Telecom1.21%
Media-0.25%
Advertising0.19%
Cable and Satellite0%0
Publishing-0.14%
Broadcasting-1.42%
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
INF InformaUK£8.270.3%
+UK£19.1m		-4.0%PE144.6x
WPP WPPUK£2.720.4%
+UK£12.9m		-64.6%PE7.7x
FOUR 4imprint GroupUK£39.101.0%
+UK£11.2m		-28.0%PE12.6x
BMY Bloomsbury PublishingUK£4.552.1%
+UK£7.8m		-28.1%PE16.4x
SAA M&C SaatchiUK£1.271.6%
+UK£2.4m		-28.9%PE22.1x

Latest News

SFOR
UK£0.21
S4 Capital
7D
-6.9%
1Y
-35.8%
NFG
UK£2.90
Next 15 Group
7D
-4.3%
1Y
-7.7%

NFG: Analyst Day Will Support Reappraisal Of Earnings Quality Outlook

Analysts have nudged their price target for Next 15 Group up to £15.68 from £14.14, citing updated assumptions around a slightly lower discount rate, more conservative profit margins and revenue trends, and a higher future P/E multiple. What's in the News Next 15 Group held an Analyst/Investor Day, giving the market a dedicated forum to hear management's latest views, assumptions, and priorities for the business (Key Developments).
RCH
UK£0.70
Reach
7D
-1.0%
1Y
-19.4%

RCH: Future Earnings Power Will Offset Softer Revenue Outlook

Analysts have trimmed their price target on Reach from £1.64 to about £1.48, citing updated assumptions that include slightly higher discount rates, softer revenue growth expectations, modestly stronger profit margins and a lower projected future P/E multiple. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Trimmed from £1.64 to about £1.48, representing a modest reduction in the central valuation estimate.
INF
UK£8.27
Informa
7D
0.3%
1Y
-4.0%

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£4.08
Future
7D
-1.7%
1Y
-56.8%

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£2.02
YouGov
7D
-1.0%
1Y
-47.8%

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£2.72
WPP
7D
0.4%
1Y
-64.6%

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£1.08
STV Group
7D
-6.1%
1Y
-43.0%

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.
ITV
UK£0.79
ITV
7D
-2.5%
1Y
10.3%

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.
BMY
UK£4.55
Bloomsbury Publishing
7D
2.1%
1Y
-28.1%

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
CAN
UK£3.04
Canal+
7D
-0.4%
1Y
69.2%
FOUR
UK£39.10
4imprint Group
7D
1.0%
1Y
-28.0%
TMG
UK£0.20
Mission Group
7D
8.1%
1Y
-31.0%

The Mission Group plc's (LON:TMG) Business Is Trailing The Industry But Its Shares Aren't

Jan 21
The Mission Group plc's (LON:TMG) Business Is Trailing The Industry But Its Shares Aren't
SYS1
UK£2.06
System1 Group
7D
3.0%
1Y
-66.2%
SAA
UK£1.27
M&C Saatchi
7D
1.6%
1Y
-28.9%
NAH
UK£0.34
NAHL Group
7D
3.9%
1Y
-53.8%

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