{
  "id": 12820772,
  "title": "Next 15 shares drop 10% after half-year revenue falls, pre-tax loss",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/next-15-shares-drop-10-after-half-year-revenue-falls-pre-tax-loss",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-08T07:57:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Investing.com",
    "slug": "investing-com",
    "url": "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/next-15-shares-drop-10-after-halfyear-revenue-falls-pretax-loss-93CH-4938041"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Next 15 Group's shares plummeted by nearly 10% on Thursday following the marketing and technology consultancy's disclosure of reduced half-year revenue and a pre-tax loss. The company reported a six-month revenue of £214.9 million, a 6.9% decline from £230.8 million the previous year, according to the source. On a comparable basis adjusted for currency, revenue slipped by 1.3%. The firm disclosed a pre-tax loss of £1.5 million, primarily due to ongoing litigation costs and acquisition accounting expenses, as opposed to a profit of £15.8 million a year ago. Diluted earnings per share amounted to 3.4 pence, compared to earnings of 10.4 pence. Adjusted operating profit reached £32.1 million, up from £32.7 million, while the margin improved to 14.9% from 14.2%, reflecting the company's cost management efforts. The outstanding debt increased to £57.3 million from £45.3 million, attributable to earn-out payments, taxes, and capital spending. Shareholders received the interim dividend of 4.75 pence per share, payable on November 20, to those on the register as of October 16. The arbitration hearing regarding the company's former Mach49 business concluded, and the company awaits the outcome. The management maintains its position on non-payment of the remaining earn-out and has counterclaimed for the amounts already paid. CEO Sam Knights expects a ruling within the current financial year. The company expects like-for-like revenue growth for the full year, with earnings in line with market expectations. The mix of revenue will differ from expectations, with stronger-than-anticipated digital transformation growth counterbalanced by disposals and a slower recovery in certain other segments. Next 15 achieved organic revenue growth for three consecutive months from June to August, the first such growth in three years. The company's six \"Track 1\" businesses grew like-for-like revenue by 1.8% at an 18.4% margin, primarily driven by digital transformation, which expanded by 26.8%. The group has reduced its portfolio from 22 businesses to 10 and cut headcount by 5% to 3,198. It has not experienced any significant adverse impact from the Middle East conflict.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}