M&G PLC

M&G reported an operating profit of £435m for H1 2026 (+15%), its best half-year result since the IPO. EPS was 0.1366, slightly below the forecast of 0.1412, while assets under management rose to £387bn and net inflows amounted to £2.4bn. Capital-efficient earnings now account for 80% of operating profit, and asset management contributed strongly with a 24% increase. Management expects profit growth in the low double-digit percentage range for 2026 and reaffirms targets for further EPS+ growth and the With‑Profits Fund. » More on de.investing.com

M&G appoints Hitoshi Yamaguchi as non-executive director with effect from 3 September 2026. He will join the nomination and governance committee, and his appointment is subject to the satisfaction of contractual conditions related to the strategic partnership with Daiichi Life. Yamaguchi is group chief human resources officer at Daiichi Life Group and brings more than 30 years of experience in international insurance, finance and corporate governance. » More on de.investing.com

UBS has cut M&G from "neutral" to "sell" and raised the 12‑month price target from 300 to 330 pence, which still implies downside of around 9%. The bank cites the >25% rally since the start of the year, a lower dividend yield (~6% for 2028) versus peers and the historical average, and only a small excess return over risk‑free assets. UBS also warns of limited distributable reserves (estimated at ~£1.8bn), deteriorating fund performance and a weakened case for a further stake acquisition by Dai‑ichi Life. The stock fell about 3.2% on the news; UBS expects adjusted operating profit for H1 2026 of £431m and significantly lower net inflows in the institutional segment than consensus. » More on de.investing.com