March 5 (Reuters) - Shares in Bloomsbury Publishing soared nearly 20% on Thursday after the company forecast profit for the year ending February 2027 to be materially ahead of expectations, helped by
UK's Bloomsbury shares surge as Sarah Maas books boost profit forecast
Bloomsbury Publishing's Financial Performance and Market Impact
Profit Forecast Surpasses Expectations
March 5 (Reuters) - Shares in Bloomsbury Publishing soared as much as 20% on Thursday after it forecast profit for the year to February 2027 to surpass expectations, helped by the upcoming release of two new books in author Sarah J. Maas' most popular franchise.
Diversification and Demand Drivers
Expansion into Academic Publishing and Digital Content
The publisher, which has broadened its portfolio with moves into academic publishing and digital content, expects profit to be boosted by strong demand for Maas' "romantasy" series like 'A Court of Thorns and Roses'.
Share Price Performance
Shares in the company were last 14% higher at 543 pence as of 0923 GMT, the highest level since May 2025.
Sarah J. Maas' Influence on Sales
Record-Breaking Sales Figures
Sarah J. Maas was the highest-selling author in the United States in 2024, according to data from research firm Circana, and the number one best-selling author in the UK in 2025.
Analyst Reactions
Berenberg Analyst Commentary
"This is positive news given that we were only expecting one title from the author," Berenberg analyst William Larwood said in a note.
Profit Expectations for Upcoming Years
Market Consensus for 2025-26 and 2026-27
Bloomsbury also said it expects 2025-26 profit to be in line with the market consensus of 44.3 million pounds ($59.03 million). Market expectations for 2026-27 profit stood at 44.5 million pounds.
Exchange Rate Information
($1 = 0.7505 pounds)
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Ankita Bora in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Sonia Cheema)
