LONDON, March 20, 2026, 19:17 GMT
IG Group shares hovered close to all-time highs Friday, following the company’s move to boost its 2026 guidance, kick off a £125 million buyback, and start a review that might shift its listing. The stock changed hands between 1,427 pence and 1,462.89 pence—holding just below Thursday’s 52-week peak of 1,477 pence—after a results-driven surge of up to 8.6%. This came as the FTSE 100 sank 1.4% amid broader selling. 1
The implications extend past just a single session. IG is on track to join the FTSE 100 come March 23, but the firm’s still weighing possibilities around acquisitions, where it’s based, and potential changes to its listing. London’s been watching companies exit for markets flush with more capital, and IG hasn’t made up its mind yet, according to the group. 2
The United States is already responsible for roughly a quarter of IG’s business, a number that’s only expected to climb as management bets on acceleration from the merging of trading, investing, and crypto offerings. IG Group, recognized mainly for its contracts for difference (CFDs)—leveraged wagers on asset movements—now expects organic revenue growth for 2026, excluding any deals, to hit the upper limit of its mid-to-high single-digit ambitions. 3
IG posted a 7% jump in 2025 revenue, reaching a record £1.1234 billion, according to results out Thursday. EBITDA ticked up 1% to £531.1 million. Adjusted earnings per share rose 5%, coming in at 115.3 pence. 4
Customer growth showed plenty of momentum. First trades shot up 81% to hit 128,800, while active customers surged 174% to 742,100, thanks mostly to the Freetrade deal. Strip that out, and organic active customer growth still managed a 6% increase, reaching 281,300. For the quarter ended March 31, the company projected revenue of roughly £300 million, a 7% rise over last year, as a volatile March spurred more trading. 4
Chief executive Breon Corcoran says “now is the time to raise our ambitions.” On the investor call, he singled out the United States and Britain as IG’s top priorities for dealmaking. UK and Ireland managing director Michael Healy described the U.S. to Reuters as “a very fast-growing and a highly dynamic market.” 4
Barclays analyst Richard Taylor, for one, saw the review as a sign of “greater ambition” from a company already posting record revenue and improved customer numbers. Some analysts voiced support. 3
Competition is moving fast. Plus500, a key IG competitor, struck a deal with Kalshi to tap into the U.S. prediction markets—an area gaining traction with retail investors. Back in the UK, IG is targeting clients unsettled by Hargreaves Lansdown’s new fees. 3
IG kept snapping up its own shares, according to a Friday filing. Since Sept. 4, the company has picked up 15.19 million shares, shelling out roughly £185.1 million before fees and taxes. The buyback continues to prop up earnings per share. 5
Still, the dangers are obvious. U.S. prediction markets face lawmaker scrutiny, and IG’s 2026 EBITDA projection hinges on market dynamics more or less tracking 2025. If volatility drops off, regulations get tougher, or the review fails to deliver tangible benefits, the rally may not stick. 3
Investors eye two immediate events: IG’s slated entry into the FTSE 100 next week, and a trading update set for the annual meeting on May 19. The strategic review results are still expected in the autumn. 4
