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Yougov plc
(LSE:YOU)
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Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:
332.00 p
▲(25.76% Upside)
Action:Reiterated
Date:10/14/26
The score is driven primarily by solid underlying financial quality (revenue growth, strong gross margins, and healthy free cash flow) and a constructive earnings outlook with profit guidance and targeted margin uplift. These strengths are tempered by recent profitability/ROE erosion, near-term overextended technicals, and a demanding valuation multiple that leaves less margin for execution misses.
Positive Factors
Long-term revenue growth
A 16-year record of uninterrupted revenue growth indicates durable demand for YouGov’s data and research products. Continued expansion across divisions supports recurring client relationships, reinforces market relevance, and provides a foundation for compounding revenue over the next several quarters.
Negative Factors
Profitability deterioration
The sharp decline in net margin and return on equity shows that strong revenue scale has not translated proportionately into shareholder returns. Persistent cost, amortization, or operating-leverage pressure could constrain reinvestment capacity and weaken earnings quality over the medium term.
Read all positive and negative factors
Positive Factors
Negative Factors
Long-term revenue growth
A 16-year record of uninterrupted revenue growth indicates durable demand for YouGov’s data and research products. Continued expansion across divisions supports recurring client relationships, reinforces market relevance, and provides a foundation for compounding revenue over the next several quarters.
Read all positive factors
Yougov plc (YOU) vs. iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWC)
Market Cap
£320.13M
Dividend Yield3.38%
Average Volume (3M)548.11K
Price to Earnings (P/E)56.2
Beta (1Y)1.09
Revenue Growth1.98%
EPS Growth-57.39%
CountryUK
Employees3,119
SectorIndustrials
Sector Strength72
IndustryConsulting Services
Share Statistics
EPS (TTM)0.05
Shares Outstanding117,731,240
10 Day Avg. Volume519,508
30 Day Avg. Volume548,107
Financial Highlights & Ratios
PEG Ratio-0.94
Price to Book (P/B)1.60
Price to Sales (P/S)0.76
P/FCF Ratio7.77
Enterprise Value/Market CapN/A
Enterprise Value/RevenueN/A
Enterprise Value/Gross ProfitN/A
Enterprise Value/EbitdaN/A
Forecast
1Y Price Target
£392.00Price Target Upside48.48% Upside
Rating ConsensusStrong Buy
Number of Analyst Covering5
EPS Forecast (FY)0.33
Revenue Forecast (FY)£405.88M
Yougov plc Business Overview & Revenue Model
Company Description
YouGov plc delivers online market research solutions across a wide international footprint, encompassing the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, the Nordic region, the Middle East, Continental Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Its operations a...
How the Company Makes Money
YouGov primarily makes money by selling research, data, and analytics services to clients through a mix of subscription-based and project-based revenues. A key revenue stream comes from syndicated (recurring) products—standardised data sets, track...
Yougov plc Earnings Call Summary
Earnings Call Date:Oct 13, 2026
(Q4-2026)
| % Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 23, 2027
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call was predominantly positive. Management highlighted continued revenue growth, a 16th consecutive year of growth, stronger Data Products margins, improved cash conversion, increased liquidity, reduced leverage, progress on the Value Delivery Plan, AI-related growth, new product launches, and FY2027 adjusted operating profit guidance of £58 million to £61 million. The main challenges were the 11% decline in adjusted EPS, lower Research and Shopper margins, weakness in several verticals, ongoing restructuring and amortization charges, uncertainty around the Shopper review, and the absence of formal revenue guidance. Overall, the positive developments and forward commitments significantly outweighed the stated challenges.Positive Updates
Continued Group Revenue Growth
All three divisions delivered headline revenue growth in FY2026, with growth at low single-digit percentages. Data Products and Research grew 3% on an underlying basis, marking the Group's 16th unbroken year of revenue growth. Management expects FY2027 to be the 17th consecutive year of revenue growth.
Negative Updates
Adjusted EPS Decline
Adjusted EPS was 30p, down 11%, broadly aligned with the reduction in adjusted operating profit. Management said the decline was entirely related to H1 performance because H2 adjusted operating profit was marginally up year on year.
Read all updates
Q4-2026 Updates
Positive
Negative
Continued Group Revenue Growth
All three divisions delivered headline revenue growth in FY2026, with growth at low single-digit percentages. Data Products and Research grew 3% on an underlying basis, marking the Group's 16th unbroken year of revenue growth. Management expects FY2027 to be the 17th consecutive year of revenue growth.
Read all positive updates
Company Guidance
For FY 2027, YouGov expects adjusted operating profit of between 58 million and 61 million, representing year on year growth of around double digit percentage points and in line with current market expectations; 49% of FY 2027 revenue expectations are contractually secured, the core business is expected to grow, Shopper is expected to deliver marginal growth, and Investment in Shopper will continue in FY 2027 at broadly the same levels as FY 2026, with benefits expected to start flowing through from a revenue perspective towards the end of FY 2027. The combined impact of Waves 1 and 2 is expected to deliver an annualized adjusted operating profit margin uplift of 350 bps over the margin achieved in H1 FY 26 of 12.3%, with high levels of conviction this target will be achieved prior to the end of FY 27; management is not guiding to a 7%, 10% overall revenue growth and does not expect to give a forward-looking target for cash conversion.Yougov plc Financial Statement Overview
Summary
Income Statement
64
Positive
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
Cash Flow
76
Positive
| Breakdown | Jul 2026 | Jul 2025 | Jul 2024 | Jul 2023 | Jul 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Income Statement | |||||
| Total Revenue | 396.60M | 388.90M | 335.30M | 258.30M | 221.10M |
| Gross Profit | 323.20M | 283.30M | 271.10M | 199.90M | 167.00M |
| EBITDA | 44.20M | 74.00M | 49.40M | 70.50M | 51.50M |
| Net Income | 5.70M | 13.40M | -2.40M | 34.50M | 17.10M |
Balance Sheet | |||||
| Total Assets | 556.80M | 600.30M | 609.70M | 304.30M | 240.40M |
| Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments | 41.90M | 54.80M | 73.60M | 107.20M | 37.40M |
| Total Debt | 203.00M | 221.90M | 238.80M | 11.20M | 12.20M |
| Total Liabilities | 369.00M | 409.20M | 426.50M | 108.10M | 115.40M |
| Stockholders Equity | 187.80M | 191.10M | 183.20M | 196.40M | 125.30M |
Cash Flow | |||||
| Free Cash Flow | 38.60M | 44.10M | 37.70M | 42.10M | 44.40M |
| Operating Cash Flow | 39.90M | 45.20M | 39.70M | 59.50M | 61.90M |
| Investing Cash Flow | -19.60M | -20.70M | -280.90M | -17.40M | -42.90M |
| Financing Cash Flow | -33.10M | -42.90M | 208.30M | 29.10M | -20.00M |
Yougov plc Technical Analysis
Neutral
264.00
Price Trends
270.79
Positive
255.72
Positive
228.01
Positive
Market Momentum
2.35
Positive
48.70
Neutral
25.01
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For GB:YOU, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 264 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 277.29, below the 50-day MA of 270.79, and above the 200-day MA of 228.01, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 2.35 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 48.70 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 25.01 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for GB:YOU.
Yougov plc Peers Comparison
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Name | Overall Rating | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | ROE | Dividend Yield | Revenue Growth | EPS Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
67 Neutral | £320.13M | 56.18 | 3.05% | 3.38% | 1.98% | -57.39% | |
67 Neutral | £42.51M | 32.37 | 9.14% | 1.79% | -1.27% | -70.61% | |
63 Neutral | $10.79B | 15.43 | 7.44% | 2.01% | 2.89% | -14.66% | |
59 Neutral | £4.14B | -17.28 | -9.33% | 3.90% | -6.47% | -162.96% | |
52 Neutral | £333.59M | -10.38 | -25.66% | 4.71% | -14.13% | -302.80% | |
47 Neutral | £12.33M | -2.76 | -19.11% | 1.38% | -6.88% | 63.74% |
* Industrials Sector Average
GB:YOU
Yougov plc
275.40
28.27
11.44%
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Yougov plc Corporate Events
Business Operations and StrategyStock BuybackDividends
YouGov launches £15m share buyback, cancels FY26 dividend
Positive
Oct 13, 2026
YouGov plc has launched a share repurchase programme for its ordinary shares, with a maximum aggregate consideration of £15 million to be completed by the second half of FY27. The company intends to cancel all shares bought back, effectively ...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesStock BuybackDividendsFinancial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and Financing
YouGov leans on AI innovation and cost savings as FY26 profits dip but outlook brightens
Positive
Oct 13, 2026
YouGov reported full-year 2026 results broadly in line with guidance, with revenue rising 2% to £396.6m and stronger second-half performance offset by lower adjusted operating profit and margins due to investment and non-cash impairment charg...
Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
YouGov Schedules October Release of Full-Year 2026 Results
Neutral
Sep 21, 2026
YouGov plc, the international research and data analytics group, plans to publish its financial results for the twelve months ending 31 July 2026 on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. The company, known for its extensive global panel and technology-driven ...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
YouGov appoints Wayne Levings as CEO in leadership shift focused on innovation and growth
Positive
Aug 6, 2026
YouGov plc has announced the planned appointment of Wayne Levings as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant leadership transition at the global research and data analytics group. Levings, a seasoned executive with deep experience a...
Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesStock BuybackDividendsFinancial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and FinancingProduct-Related Announcements
YouGov extends debt facilities, plans buyback and names new CEO
Positive
Aug 6, 2026
YouGov said it expects full-year results to come in line with previous guidance, underpinned by new AI-focused products including Model Context Protocol support and the YouGov Parallax simulation tool. The group also highlighted continued investme...
Business Operations and StrategyRegulatory Filings and Compliance
YouGov updates total voting rights and share capital structure
Positive
Aug 3, 2026
YouGov plc has confirmed that as of 31 July 2026 its issued share capital comprises 117,885,459 ordinary shares, with no shares held in treasury and 725,557 shares held by the YouGov Employee Benefit Trust for employee share schemes. The company h...
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer
This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.