Future (LSE:FUTR) said trading in the second half has been "largely as expected" and confirmed it will deliver full-year results in line with market expectations, in a pre-close trading update covering the year to 30 September.
The global specialist media group, which operates around 170 consumer and professional brands, said company-compiled consensus for FY 2026 stands at revenue of £707m, adjusted EBITDA of £180m, adjusted EPS of 101p and leverage of 1.7x, with that consensus including the SheerLuxe acquisition.
The Board has decided to pause its current share buyback programme, of which around £24m of the planned £30m has been executed, to focus on deleveraging in FY 2027.
Future confirmed it will continue with its existing dividend policy.
At the half-year stage in May, Future reported net debt of £314.1m and leverage of 1.6x, after returning £52.9m to shareholders through £36.9m of buybacks and £16m of dividends, alongside guidance for a mid-to-low single-digit organic revenue decline and an adjusted EBITDA margin of 25-27% for the full year.
The company will report full-year results on 3 December.