London, March 9, 2026, 23:49 GMT
Rightmove scooped up 210,000 of its own shares on Monday as part of its current buyback push, but that didn’t stop shares from sliding 2.7% to 453 pence by the close. The UK property portal said it paid an average of 453.416 pence per share and plans to cancel the repurchased stock, reducing shares in issue to 761.27 million.
Rightmove’s reputation took a hit after its shares tumbled on the back of increased spending on artificial intelligence and other upgrades—investors weren’t convinced. After Monday’s session, the stock finished roughly 45% off its 52-week peak. The big question lingers: when will all that extra investment actually translate into growth?
One bit of relief last week: FTSE Russell decided to keep Rightmove in the FTSE 100. Back in February, an early review had flagged it as a possible exit. Instead, the names that got the boot were EasyJet and Hikma Pharmaceuticals.
Rightmove’s full-year numbers, out Feb. 27, showed a 9% climb in both 2025 revenue and underlying operating profit—a metric that excludes certain items. The company maintained its 2026 revenue growth outlook at 8% to 10%, but flagged that operating profit growth will ease back to 3% to 5% as margins slip to 67% amid stepped-up investment.
Rightmove is heading into 2026 with confidence, CEO Johan Svanstrom said, highlighting 31 active AI projects in play across the group—among them, conversational search and a new app submission to ChatGPT. The company also emphasized that direct and organic traffic now tops 85%, underscoring its brand’s pull as user search patterns evolve.
RBC Capital Markets came out in support, arguing Rightmove stands a better shot at benefiting from AI than getting sideswiped by it. The broker pointed out that over 90% of Rightmove’s data is proprietary, and described the long-term outlook as “compelling.” Still, RBC conceded that margins will probably feel some pressure in the short run. Proactiveinvestors UK
Peel Hunt struck a positive tone on the core business. Analyst Jessica Pok noted there was “no evidence of any impact on the business” tied to broader AI concerns. Shares, she pointed out, are now trading at their lowest earnings multiple in ten years, following in-line 2025 guidance and a surprise 90 million pound buyback. Proactiveinvestors NA
Not everyone is breathing easy. Russ Mould at AJ Bell noted last week’s results had “calm[ed] investors’ nerves”, but flagged that Rightmove still faces heat to prove its AI investments are paying off — and to make its case against rival generative AI platforms. Sharecast
The company is holding its ground in a market crowded by names like Zoopla and OnTheMarket. Rightmove, during its most recent investor presentation, put itself side by side with those rivals and pointed out that 60% of its users in 2025 used only Rightmove—management says that’s proof its lead won’t be easy to shake.
There’s a risk the housing picture could sour right as costs push up. UK mortgage rates, Reuters said Friday, have begun creeping higher again—oil-fueled inflation worries are undercutting hopes for Bank of England rate cuts. Rightmove pointed out that new-home development numbers are still scraping historic lows in the market.
Monday’s market mood didn’t do any favors. The FTSE 100 slipped 0.3%, with the FTSE 250 sinking 1.8% as oil prices surged and traders pulled back on UK rate cut expectations—a fresh signal that Rightmove’s gains may hinge just as much on the macro environment as on whatever it rolls out next.
