GlobalData (DATA) H1 2026 earnings summary

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.