London, Feb 16, 2026, 10:44 GMT — Regular session
- Rightmove shares edged up in London by mid-morning.
- The portal’s latest housing-market update put the spotlight on buyer demand and the state of listings.
- The next decisive move for investors probably hinges on the company’s late-February results.
Rightmove shares edged up 0.5% to 432.2 pence by mid-morning in London, after an open at 435.1 pence. The FTSE 100 property portal remains barely above its 52-week low of 428.4p, still down roughly 48% from last year’s high. (London South East)
This shift is key: Rightmove relies on paid ads from estate agents and homebuilders. When business heats up, those agents typically shell out more for marketing, even splurging on upgrades. If things slow, they cut spending fast.
Monday’s housing data lands, offering investors a metric as they look for signs that the spring selling season might deliver actual transaction volume rather than just making noise in the news.
Rightmove’s latest House Price Index puts the average asking price for newly listed homes in February at £368,019, barely changed — just £12 lower. The company highlighted stronger wages and falling mortgage rates as support for buyers, with a typical two-year fixed deal now at 4.28%, down from 4.96% a year ago. “With buyer choice remaining high, sellers will still need to come to the market at tempting prices,” said Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove. (Rightmove)
Reuters, referencing Rightmove data, said asking prices held steady in the four weeks through Feb. 7, both against the previous month and year. That follows a record 2.8% rise seen in the five weeks up to Jan. 10. Inventory is swelling: the number of homes on the market reached its highest point for this season in more than a decade. Still, agreed sales sat 5% lower than at this time in 2025, even though they’re up 9% compared to 2024. (Reuters)
UK stocks nudged higher, the FTSE index gaining roughly 0.1% for the session. (Reuters)
Rightmove shareholders are weighing if firmer prices and better affordability actually drive a lift in listings, more buyer leads, and stronger pricing leverage with agents. So far, the stock’s been behaving as if caution is still the dominant mood.
But those housing “asking prices” reflect listings, not final sales, so they don’t always track with deal volume. Mortgage rates ticking higher or a dip in consumer confidence can easily stall the usual spring bump—sometimes it never shows up. Marketing budgets, too, are typically among the earliest cuts.
According to its investor calendar, Rightmove will release full-year results on Feb. 27—a date that could trigger the next significant shift in the stock. (Rightmove Plc)
Eyes will be on advertiser counts, average revenue per advertiser, and whatever management says about costs and product spending into 2026. The next set update lands in late February—that’s the firm date to circle.
