Informa plc stock (GB00BMJ6DW54): events specialist positions for growth after solid 2024 results

Informa plc has reported solid 2024 results and updated its 2025 outlook, underlining the recovery of its global events and B2B information business. The stock draws interest from investors looking at structural growth in live conferences, exhibitions and data services.

Informa plc, a global business-to-business events and information group, recently reported its full-year 2024 results and updated guidance for 2025, highlighting continued recovery in live events and growth in academic and data products, according to the company’s reporting and accompanying materials from early 2025 Informa investor information as of 03/2025. The group emphasized strength in exhibitions and specialist content, alongside ongoing portfolio simplification and capital allocation focused on dividends and share buybacks Informa investor information as of 03/2025.

As of: 25.05.2026

By the editorial team – specialized in equity coverage.

At a glance

• Name: Informa
• Sector/industry: Business-to-business events, exhibitions, academic publishing and data
• Headquarters/country: London, United Kingdom
• Core markets: Europe, North America, Middle East and Asia for exhibitions and conferences; global customer base for data and academic content
• Key revenue drivers: Large-scale trade shows and conferences, digital events, specialist data and analytics, academic and professional content
• Home exchange/listing venue: London Stock Exchange (ticker: INF)
• Trading currency: GBP

Informa plc: core business model

Informa plc focuses on connecting professional communities and delivering specialist knowledge through exhibitions, conferences, digital platforms and information services. The group organizes large-scale trade shows and industry events across sectors such as healthcare, technology, energy, finance, education and industrial markets, creating marketplaces where buyers and sellers meet to transact and network Informa about us as of 02/2025. These live events are often complemented by digital offerings, allowing customers to extend engagement beyond physical show dates Informa about us as of 02/2025.

Alongside events, Informa owns academic and professional content businesses that publish journals, books and digital learning products used by universities, researchers and professionals worldwide. This includes recurring revenue streams from institutional subscriptions, licensing and database access, which typically exhibit different seasonality and margin characteristics than the exhibitions portfolio Informa about us as of 02/2025. The combination of in-person events with data and content aims to create integrated platforms where information, networking and deal-making reinforce each other.

Informa structures its operations into several divisions, including exhibitions-focused units and knowledge and information segments. Management has emphasized a strategy of concentration on specialist markets, with brands such as Vitafoods in nutrition and WasteExpo in environmental services serving as examples of sector-focused platforms that bring together industry decision-makers and solution providers on an annual or multi-year basis WasteExpo show info as of 05/2025. These platforms are designed to attract repeat exhibitors and attendees, contributing to recurring revenue characteristics for major shows Asia Food Journal as of 05/2025.

Main revenue and product drivers for Informa plc

The exhibition and events portfolio is a key revenue engine for Informa, driven by large-scale trade shows across North America, Europe and Asia. Events like WasteExpo in the US solid waste and recycling sector and Vitafoods Europe in the nutraceutical industry illustrate how the group monetizes booth space, sponsorships and attendee fees across highly specialized verticals WasteExpo show info as of 05/2025. WasteExpo, for example, is positioned as a leading trade show for waste management professionals in North America, bringing together haulers, municipalities, landfill operators and technology providers on a recurring basis, a model repeated across other trade platforms WasteExpo show info as of 05/2025.

Vitafoods Europe, operated by Informa Markets, is another illustrative platform, serving the dietary supplements and functional food industries. The 2026 edition has been promoted as its largest-ever showcase, reflecting strong exhibitor demand and the continued expansion of nutraceutical innovation worldwide Asia Food Journal as of 05/2025. Such events generate revenue from international exhibitors as well as visitors and are often supported by educational content, conference tracks and networking formats that help sustain pricing power.

In addition to physical events, Informa monetizes digital extensions, year-round sponsorship opportunities and data products linked to its communities. The company’s portfolio includes information services and research brands, including the technology research house Omdia, which publishes analysis on topics such as smartphone market trends and telecoms financial benchmarks Omdia blog as of 05/2026. These content and data offerings generate subscription and consulting revenues and can also support the events portfolio by providing insight topics and speakers drawn from proprietary research Omdia research as of 02/2026.

Academic publishing and professional learning remain important revenue contributors, with Informa’s content used by universities, libraries and companies worldwide. According to its investor materials, the group has highlighted the resilience of these revenues, supported by multi-year contracts and institutional relationships, while also focusing on digital delivery and open research trends to adapt to changes in how knowledge is consumed Informa investor information as of 03/2025. This mix of cyclical event revenues and more stable information services is a key aspect of the business profile from the perspective of stock market investors.

Industry trends and competitive position

Informa operates within the global exhibitions and B2B information industry, where structural trends include the return of in-person events after pandemic disruptions, the integration of digital tools and the rise of data-driven decision-making across sectors. Industry observers have noted that large-scale trade shows in specialist verticals can benefit from network effects, as exhibitors and visitors cluster around leading events to maximize reach and efficiency WasteExpo show info as of 05/2025. Informa’s focus on flagship brands in growth markets such as healthcare, technology, energy transition and nutrition positions it within these structural trends.

On the information side, the group competes with both traditional publishers and newer digital platforms. Omdia, for example, produces research that competes with other technology market intelligence providers when advising smartphone vendors, telecom operators and cloud players on strategic decisions Omdia blog as of 05/2026. In academic content, Informa’s brands compete in a global market for journals, books and digital learning solutions that has been moving steadily toward online access and open science, compelling providers to evolve their business models while defending quality and peer-review standards Informa about us as of 02/2025.

The company’s geographic diversification across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia helps balance regional cycles and regulatory environments. Events like WasteExpo in the US and Vitafoods in Europe demonstrate how Informa leverages regional strengths while connecting global participants, which can support pricing and brand recognition over time WasteExpo show info as of 05/2025. At the same time, competition from other exhibition organizers and digital-only platforms remains a factor for investors to monitor.

Why Informa plc matters for US investors

Although Informa is listed on the London Stock Exchange, its footprint in North America is significant through trade shows, conferences and information services that directly address US industries. WasteExpo, run under the Informa Markets umbrella, is held in the United States and is presented as one of the premier gatherings for the waste and recycling industry, drawing US and international participants each year WasteExpo show info as of 05/2025. This presence provides exposure to US infrastructure and environmental spending, as well as to regulatory developments around waste, recycling and circular economy initiatives.

Through Omdia and other information brands, Informa also engages deeply with US-based technology and telecom companies. Omdia’s coverage of topics such as Google I/O, smartphone strategies and hyperscale platform financials reflects ongoing demand for independent research from US and global clients navigating rapid shifts in cloud computing, AI and 5G deployment Omdia blog as of 05/2026. This positions Informa indirectly within key growth areas of the US technology ecosystem, even though its stock trades in London and reports in sterling.

For US-based portfolio managers and retail investors, Informa can therefore be seen as a way to gain exposure to the global events and information sector, with a meaningful share of underlying activity tied to the US economy. Currency movements between the US dollar and British pound, as well as the relative valuations of UK-listed business services companies versus US peers, are among the external variables that can influence how US investors view the stock from a portfolio construction standpoint Informa investor information as of 03/2025.

Conclusion

Informa plc combines a broad portfolio of trade shows, conferences, academic publishing and data services, with recent results and guidance underlining the recovery of live events and the importance of digital and information-based revenues within the group Informa investor information as of 03/2025. Its presence across specialist sectors such as waste management, nutrition, technology and telecoms provides diversified exposure to structural growth themes in both Europe and North America, while the listing in London introduces currency and regional valuation considerations for US investors. As with any stock, performance will depend on the execution of strategy, the health of key end markets and broader macroeconomic factors, and investors assess these elements alongside valuation, balance sheet strength and competitive dynamics when forming their own view on the shares.

Disclaimer: This article does not constitute investment advice. Stocks are volatile financial instruments.