After Experian PLC (LSE:EXPN) shares sank 30% over the past year, Stifel joined the throng of City voices suggesting that investors are overly pessimistic about the credit data group's prospects in the age of artificial intelligence. The US brokerage said the 22% sell-off since the start of the year has created “an attractive entry point into a consistent compounder with a strong track record”.
Annual results from Experian PLC (LSE:EXPN) strengthened confidence among analysts that the credit data group can keep delivering strong growth even as concerns linger over consumer lending and the wider economy. Deutsche Bank said the FTSE 100 group had shown “continued operational, strategic and financial progress” during the 2026 financial year, pointing to 15% adjusted earnings growth, improving margins and accelerating adoption of its Ascend analytics platform.
Experian PLC's (LSE:EXPN) annual results may not have been enough to stop the shares falling on Wednesday, but analysts said the update should help reassure investors worried that artificial intelligence could threaten the group's long-term growth prospects. The FTSE 100 credit data and analytics company has lost almost a fifth of its market value so far this year amid concerns that generative AI tools could weaken demand for traditional credit checking and data services.
Experian LON: EXPN reported what Chief Executive Officer Brian Cassin called a “record year” for the year ended March 31, 2026, with organic revenue growth at the top end of expectations, margin expansion ahead of guidance and a new GBP 1 billion share buyback program.
Experian PLC (LSE:EXPN) shares led the FTSE 100 fallers on Wednesday morning, down 4.1% to 2,596p, despite the credit checking group reporting record annual results and announcing a fresh $1 billion share buyback programme. Guidance for the coming year of 6-8% organic sales growth compared to the City consensus of 8%, which chief executive Brian Cassin said was "prudent" bearing in mind current Middle East uncertainties.
Experian has launched an agentic artificial intelligence partnership with software provider ServiceNow. This collaboration, the data/tech company announced Friday (May 15), is designed to help businesses make better decisions with the help of autonomous AI agents.
Experian PLC has been swept up in the market's broader anxiety about AI disruption, but UBS argues the sell-off has gone further than the fundamentals justify. The bank says fears around artificial intelligence undermining data and software businesses need to be taken seriously, which is why it has carried out a deep dive into Experian's barriers to entry, customers, regulation and potential new competitors.
Experian PLC's (LSE:EXPN) surprise $1 billion share buyback plan drew support from analysts, who see it as a timely move to restore confidence after a sharp fall in the credit data firm's share price. The FTSE 100 group unveiled the programme on Thursday, saying it will run until June 2027.
Experian PLC (LSE:EXPN) shares climbed 2.4% to 2,759p after the FTSE 100 group announced the launch of a US$1bn share buyback on the back of its weak share price and recent trading that it said remained strong. Expecting to end the current financial year to March in a "favourable leverage position", the credit checking group said this enabled it to continue to both invest in the business and return excess capital to shareholders.
Shares in Experian PLC (LSE:EXPN) fell to a two-year low despite the credit checking giant reporting 8% organic growth in the past quarter, in line with expectations and keeping full-year guidance unchanged. In a thiurd-quarter update from the FTSE 100 group is said it expects 8% growth in the final quarter of its financial year.
Experian plc (EXPGY) Q3 2026 Sales/Trading Call Transcript
Experian PLC (LSE:EXPN) announced that chair Mike Rogers will retire at the conclusion of the company's annual general meeting on 22 July 2026. The data company said Rogers will not stand for re-election, ending a nine-year tenure on the board.