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Future PLC on Thursday announced increased shareholder returns despite reporting lower full-year sales and profit amid challenging conditions. Shares in the Bath, England-based online magazine publisher and owner of price comparison website Go Compare shot up 10% to 664.75 pence on Thursday morning in London. Pretax profit fell 11% to £91.9 million in the financial year ending September from £103.2 million the year prior, with diluted earnings per share down 7.0% to 62.1 pence from 66.8p. Revenue slipped 6.2% to £739.2 million from £788.2 million with a 3% organic decline combined with adverse foreign exchange and previously announced business closures. By division, business to consumer, the group’s largest division, saw organic revenue decline 2% with a flat revenue performance in Magazines offset by a 4% decline in Media. Go.Compare revenue declined 5%, reflecting the anticipated decline in car quote volumes. Business to business revenue continues to be ‘challenging’, Future said, with a 9% organic decline. ‘I am pleased to report a resilient performance in line with expectations, delivered against a challenging macroeconomic environment,’ said Chief Executive Kevin Li Ying. Future announced a new £30 million share buyback and boosted the dividend five-fold to 17p per share from 3.4p. Looking ahead, Future expects modest organic revenue growth in financial 2026, in line with current consensus, with performance second half weighted as strategic initiatives and operating model changes will deliver in the second half of the financial year. In the medium term, Future expects sustainable revenue growth of 2% to 4%. In addition, Future said Mark Brooker, current senior independent non-executive director, will succeed Richard Huntingford as chair. Huntingford, who took the chair in February 2018, intends to step down following the annual general meeting in February 2026. Copyright 2025 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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