London, Feb 15, 2026, 11:53 GMT — Markets have wrapped up for the day.
- Experian shares finished up 5.4%, landing at 2,538p, following a bounce among London-listed data stocks.
- A fresh share buyback tranche is on the table, the company said, tying it to its newly launched repurchase programme.
- Next up for rate-cut wagers: UK January inflation, due Feb. 18.
Experian jumped 5.4% to close at 2,538 pence (£25.38) on Friday, recouping some recent losses that have hit data and analytics names hard. 1
This shift is notable. Investors remain unsure how to value the changing landscape—will artificial intelligence carve out slices of the data business, or simply give established players an edge? Experian, for one, finds itself pulled deeper into that argument than many peers.
Rates play a big role, too. A significant portion of the credit bureau’s income comes from credit checks, mortgage queries, and fraud screenings in North America—services that tend to fluctuate with shifts in borrowing costs and whatever lenders are chasing at the moment. 2
London’s mood improved on Friday, with the FTSE 100 picking up 0.4%. Takeover rumors and hopes for looser monetary policy outweighed fresh nerves around AI. Experian bounced back, joined by RELX and London Stock Exchange Group, according to Reuters. 3
The broader “AI loser” selloff has hit hard. Investors are dumping stocks first, asking questions second, Barclays equity strategist Emmanuel Cau said, adding that the mood is “who is next”—with little sympathy for any company seen as vulnerable. 4
Experian disclosed its latest share buyback on Friday, snapping up 434,207 shares on Feb. 12. The price tags ranged from 2,358p to 2,436p, averaging out at 2,403.8894p per share. The transaction is part of the company’s ongoing repurchase program. 5
The buyback is part of a $1 billion program unveiled by the company on Jan. 30, aimed at returning cash even as investors contend with a more unsettled outlook for data businesses. 6
Friday saw heavy action, with roughly 7.1 million shares changing hands. The stock moved between 2,402p and 2,567p, finishing solidly above its previous close at 2,408p, according to Thomson Reuters data. 7
Experian rolled out mortgage marketing updates as well. Susan Allen, chief product officer at Experian Housing, described the Self-Service Prescreen tool as a way for lenders to gain “greater control, agility and confidence” over borrower targeting. 8
Still, the bounce may not last long if the rate narrative shifts. Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill described underlying inflation as sitting near 2.5%, calling current rates “a little bit too low”—comments that take some heat out of hopes for cuts anytime soon. 9
January inflation is up next for the UK. The Office for National Statistics will drop the CPI numbers at 0700 GMT on Feb. 18, a release that tends to move rate-cut bets and often rattles lending-linked stocks. 10
The company’s financial calendar pegs May 20 as the date for Experian’s next big event: preliminary full-year results. 11
