London, Feb 16, 2026, 08:35 GMT — Regular session.
- LSEG kicked off in positive territory before slipping back, though the stock remained above its previous close.
- Weekend headlines about activist Elliott’s push for more capital returns remained front and center.
- LSEG’s results on Feb. 26 are in focus, with investors hoping for more detail around strategy and AI exposure.
London Stock Exchange Group climbed 0.6% to 7,616 pence as of 0821 GMT, having kicked off at 7,722 and moved between 7,600 and 7,726 in the morning, shareprices.com showed. U.S. markets, meanwhile, take a break Monday for Presidents Day. (Shareprices)
Early gains landed with a now-familiar catalyst: buybacks. On Sunday, The Times reported activist investor Elliott is urging LSEG to launch a £5 billion share buyback, aiming to boost shareholder returns after the stock’s steep drop over the last year. (The Times)
The next big catalyst: results dropping next week. LSEG is bringing investors in for its FY 2025 preliminary results webcast, set for Thursday, Feb. 26 at 10:00 UK time. CEO David Schwimmer and CFO Michel‑Alain Proch will be hosting. (LSEG)
So far, Elliott hasn’t disclosed the size of its stake. Last week, Reuters said the fund has taken a position and is talking to LSEG about ways to boost performance; under UK rules, anything above 3% must be reported. “The market was now waiting for Elliott to spell out exactly how it plans to refocus LSEG,” wrote Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell. (Reuters)
LSEG has been picking up its own shares, according to a regulatory filing posted by Sharecast. The company snapped up 353,987 shares on Feb. 10 via Citigroup Global Markets, as part of the buyback plan first floated in November. The filing notes the irrevocable programme wrapped up as outlined. (Sharecast)
The group is pushing to prove it can do more than just sell data — it’s working on new market infrastructure, too. On Feb. 12, LSEG unveiled plans for the LSEG Digital Securities Depository, its on‑chain settlement service designed for trading and settling tokenised assets. These are securities issued on a blockchain, but the system is built to mesh with current settlement frameworks. “As tokenisation continues to mature, interoperability between traditional and digital market infrastructure will be critical,” said Angus Fletcher, global head of digital solutions at State Street, quoted in the Reuters report. (Reuters)
Press accounts say Elliott is focused on valuation and margins—not just tech. According to the Financial Times, the activist has pushed LSEG to ramp up buybacks and narrow what it views as a profit gap against U.S.-listed rivals like Moody’s and CME Group. (Financial Times)
Still, the stock’s caught up in a bigger question—if powerful new AI is going to chip away at how much muscle data and analytics firms have over pricing. Should guidance stay cautious, or if management doesn’t budge on ramping up returns, investors are back where they started: looking for a clear spark for a rerating.
Traders are eyeing the initial jump, waiting to see if it sticks—and if speculation about an expanded buyback starts to take shape. They’re looking for signs: maybe an official program, a timeline, or at least sharper guidance on leverage and cash flow.
