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Edge16 Oct 2026
Winner, Winner: The Chicken McNugget Story
How a 1940s breeding contest, a Cornell food scientist, and a hedge by Ray Dalio helped McDonald's turn the Chicken McNugget into a fast-food icon.
GlobalData
GlobalData (DATA) investor relations material
GlobalData H1 2026 earnings summary
Complete event summary combining all related documents: earnings call transcript, report, and slide presentation.H1 2026 earnings summary14 Sep, 2026
Executive summary
Revenue grew 4% to £162.9m for H1 2026, with underlying growth of 1% amid challenging macroeconomic conditions and elongated sales cycles.
Adjusted EBITDA increased 5% to £54.8m, margin improved to 34% from 33%.
Strategic shift to an end-market divisional structure is underway, with Healthcare as a proof point and Consumer division delivering 7% underlying growth.
New customer-centric go-to-market model and investments in AI-native workflows, proprietary data, and sales teams underpin future growth and margin efficiency.
Immediate priority is to accelerate underlying revenue growth and scale commercial best practices.
Financial highlights
Revenue: £162.9m (HY25: £156.5m), up 4% year-over-year; underlying growth 1%.
Adjusted EBITDA: £54.8m (HY25: £52.1m), up 5%; margin 34% (HY25: 33%).
Operating profit rose 8% to £30.9m (IFRS), margin at 19%.
Adjusted diluted EPS up 8%; free cash flow down 27% to £31.3m.
Contracted forward revenue up 4%, providing strong visibility for FY26 and beyond.
Outlook and guidance
FY26 underlying revenue growth expected to remain muted, tracking lower end of market expectations.
Adjusted EBITDA for FY26 anticipated below market expectations due to continued investment and subdued margins.
Investments in AI-native workflows, proprietary data, and human expertise to increase customer value and competitive moat.
Medium-term margin recovery will be slower due to deliberate investments, but significant ROI expected long-term.
Capital allocation remains flexible, balancing growth investment, selective M&A, and shareholder returns.
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Next GlobalData earnings date
H2 20261 Mar, 2027
GlobalData
Next GlobalData earnings date
H2 20261 Mar, 2027
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Frequently asked questions
GlobalData PLC is a UK-based company specializing in data analytics, consulting, and business intelligence services. The company provides a comprehensive suite of proprietary data, analytics, and insights through its integrated platform, which supports a wide range of industries. These industries include aerospace, defense, agribusiness, automotive, healthcare, and financial services, among others. GlobalData's offerings are categorized into Intelligence Centers, which provide sector-specific market and thematic intelligence, Consultancy services for customized solutions, and a Marketplace that includes reports, company profiles, and direct data services. The company is headquartered in London, England, and its shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange.