London, Feb 23, 2026, 09:24 GMT — Regular session
Shares in Experian (EXPN.L) rose about 0.5% to 2,605 pence by 0921 GMT on Monday, pushing toward the top of the day’s range after a fresh update on the credit data group’s buyback. The stock is still roughly 36% below its 52-week high. (Google)
The moves are small, but buybacks have turned into a steady drumbeat for UK investors in names that have been knocked around by swings in credit demand. It can be a real bid in the market, even when the broader tape looks messy.
That matters because risk appetite has been fragile again. Britain’s FTSE 100 slipped about 0.1% in early trade as investors digested fresh uncertainty around U.S. trade policy, and NAB strategist Rodrigo Catril called the tariff picture “more uncertain than before.” (Reuters)
Experian said it bought 399,031 ordinary shares on the London Stock Exchange on Feb. 20 through J.P. Morgan Securities, paying between 2,579 pence and 2,641 pence. The volume-weighted average price was 2,608.1653 pence, and the shares will be cancelled. (Investegate)
The company launched the repurchase plan on Jan. 30 and said it intends to buy back up to $1 billion of shares, finishing no later than June 30, 2027. It has also flagged employee share plan obligations of about $200 million. (Investegate)
A buyback is simply a company purchasing its own stock and cancelling it, shrinking the share count. That can lift earnings per share over time, even without a jump in profit, though it does not change the underlying business.
Experian is one of the “Big Three” consumer credit reporting groups alongside TransUnion and Equifax, and it sells data, analytics and related services across lending and fraud prevention. (Wikipedia)
Investors have been looking for signs the core credit-check engine can hold up if lending turns patchy. In its last trading update in January, Experian reported third-quarter organic revenue growth of 8% and kept its full-year forecast unchanged, while a Panmure Liberum analyst flagged competitive pressure in parts of the U.S. mortgage ecosystem. (Reuters)
But buybacks can lose their cushioning effect if credit volumes slide harder, or if lenders cut spending on analytics and fraud tools during a downturn. Any sharper squeeze on consumer lending would likely show up quickly in bureau volumes.
The next clear catalyst is Experian’s preliminary announcement of full-year results on May 20, when investors will look for an update on trading trends and the pace of repurchases. (Experianplc)
