IG Group Shares Surge on Record Revenue, Announces Strategic Review

IG Group (LON: IG), a leading online trading platform, saw its shares jump to a new high of 1,477p following the release of its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, and the announcement of a strategic review aimed at maximizing shareholder value.

The markets reacted positively to the combination of record financial performance and the potential for significant strategic shifts.

The company reported a 7% increase in total revenue to a record £1,123.4 million, compared to £1,052.2 million in the previous year. Net trading revenue also saw substantial growth, increasing by 10% to £1,004.6 million. This robust performance underscores the strength of IG’s platform and its ability to capitalize on growing market opportunities.

EBITDA edged up 1% to £531.1 million, with strong margins of 47.3%, despite increased investment in strategic initiatives and lower interest income due to declining rates. Adjusted EPS also increased by 5% to 115.3 pence, supported by ongoing share buybacks. The company further announced a new share buyback program of £125.0 million, signaling confidence in its financial position and commitment to returning value to shareholders.

IG Group has made significant strides in its strategic priorities, including building a scalable, multi-asset trading and investments platform, lowering cost to serve, and embedding a high-performance culture. First trades increased dramatically by 81% to 128.8k, and active customers surged by 174% to 742.1k, boosted by the acquisition of Freetrade.

The strategic review will explore various avenues to enhance shareholder value, including acquisitions to accelerate growth, a potential change of domicile and listing venues to unlock capital and enhance strategic flexibility, and potential combinations of parts of the Group with other industry participants. The outcome of the review is expected to be announced at a Strategy Update in autumn 2026.

For the three months ended February 28, 2026, total revenue increased by 2% to £274.2 million, and net trading revenue rose by 5% to £247.2 million. Active customers increased by 176% to 753.0k, again driven by the Freetrade acquisition. Assets under administration on the IG platform reached £19.5 billion at the end of February 2026, up 7% on a reported basis.

IG expanded the Freetrade product offering with the launch of zero-commission mutual funds and SIPPs. It also completed the acquisition of Independent Reserve, an Australian cryptocurrency exchange, and launched a spot crypto proposition on IG’s platform in Australia.

Looking ahead, IG expects total revenue for the three months to March 31, 2026, to be approximately £300 million, up around 7% year on year. Organic total revenue for 2026 is expected to grow towards the top end of the mid-to-high single-digit target range. Group net interest income in 2026 is projected to be approximately £110 million, with EBITDA broadly in line with current consensus of £538.1 million.

Breon Corcoran, CEO of IG Group, stated, “Record financial results and accelerating customer growth demonstrate the strength of IG’s platform. We operate in large and fast-growing markets being reshaped by structural drivers, and now is the time to raise our ambitions. Today we are launching a strategic review to ensure IG captures the full long-term opportunity ahead – evaluating routes to maximise shareholder value.”

Driver Breakdown:

Acquisition Synergies: Freetrade and Independent Reserve contributing significantly to customer growth and revenue.

Platform Expansion: Launch of new products like zero-commission mutual funds and spot crypto offerings.

Strategic Investments: Increased spending on propositions, marketing, and strategic initiatives driving longer-term growth.