Latest news with #StephenCarter
Skift
10 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Informa Raises 2025 Revenue Forecast on the Strength of Live Events
Informa delivered strong results in the first half of 2025, reporting $2.72 billion in revenue — a 20.1% increase year over year — fueled by geographic expansion and a diversified portfolio across events, data, and digital services. Informa CEO Stephen Carter highlighted the strategic importance of live events in the current business environment. He said that trade shows have become increasingly valuable amid international geopolitical tensions. Live business-to-business events continue to serve as the company's primary growth engine, generating $2.06 billion in revenue. This is up 18.6% from the same period last year. Flagship event brands include Cannes Lions, SuperReturn, World of Concrete, and a growing healthcare portfolio anchored by WHX. The company attributed much of its momentum to strong geographic diversification, pointing to continued growth in India, Vietnam, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. In Riyadh, Informa recently debuted Money20/20 Middle East, signaling deeper investment in the Gulf region. It also has big plans in Dubai, joining forces with the Dubai World Trade Centre. Informa Raises Revenue Forecast Bookings for the remainder of the year total more than $4.14 billion, prompting the company to raise its full-year revenue growth forecast from 5% to 6%. It also upgraded its outlook for live events, now expecting more than 8% growth in that segment. Under its four-year One Informa plan through 2028, the company aims to streamline its portfolio. It plans to create three segments: Informa Markets, Informa Connect, and Informa Festivals.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
If you plan on buying multiple cars, consider this Turo host's approach
Stephen Carter isn't your typical car owner. Not only does he own five vehicles, but he rents them out on Turo (think Airbnb for cars). But last fall, Carter didn't qualify for auto loan approval for that fifth vehicle. The other four were on his personal credit report, which meant that his debt-to-income ratio was out of whack. Eventually, Carter learned about a lender that offers a unique product: an auto line of credit. 'When Carputty came along, it was a godsend,' says Carter, who's based on the Gulf Coast and financed a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van last October. He adds: 'My business year to date is almost twice what I did last year with just an additional vehicle.' Whether you need a fleet for your business or prefer multiple sets of wheels for your personal life, Carter's journey might help you understand alternative financing options. Before the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in 2020, Carter got into Turo 'by accident.' His car was giving him problems, and a friend suggested he trade it in for a Mercedes Sprinter. The large vehicle could be used for his transportation and logistics gig for his government contractor work. 'Then, the pandemic hit, all government contracts kind of froze,' says Carter, who also worked as a car salesperson for 10 years earlier in his career. 'And I was like, 'Now, what am I gonna do with this car note on the vehicle?' A friend suggested that he list the vehicle for rent on Turo as a way to generate income. 'And 240,000 miles later, it's still — I think right now it's in Tennessee somewhere,' Carter says. 'So yeah, I just fell into it.' The Turo business has proven lucrative enough for Carter to keep at it, continually adding to his fleet of vans, which are routinely rented by large groups. 'That typically is my clientele, the family that's going somewhere… the church group that's going to a baseball game or a football camp or a water park,' Carter says. 'I get those calls regularly.' Carter previously used auto loans to finance the purchase of each new vehicle in his Turo fleet. But with four such debt accounts on his personal credit report, his debt-to-income ratio made lenders wary of funding a fifth vehicle. When Carter encountered auto loan lenders that didn't want him as a new or repeat customer, he considered alternatives. After all, his rental business was thriving, and he wanted to reinvest in it. One realistic option was an unsecured personal loan from a reputable national lender. 'With American Express, I would basically only get enough to do maybe one or two cars, three really cheap cars… and AmEx was at 10 percent [interest], almost 11 percent for a third of the money,' Carter says. Eventually, while browsing a Reddit forum for Turo hosts, Carter came across a mention of Carputty, which requires a minimum credit score of 680 and operates nationally (except in California, Mississippi, Nevada and Washington). The nature of its auto line of credit — up to 15 cars and as much as $250,000 for personal use and $800,000 for LLC operators — gave him the flexibility to avoid another lump sum debt on his credit report. Carter was thrilled to secure an interest rate below seven percent. The only issue he experienced was skepticism among car dealers. No one had heard of Carputty, a fintech that was founded in 2020. 'Craziest name ever… I had at least two dealerships just hang up on me, just saying, 'I never heard of it, click, it sounds like a scam,'' Carter recalls. Average number of cars per Carputty 'Flexline' Consumers, personal use 1.7 Consumers, commercial use 2.2 Carter says his goal is to refinance all of his vehicle loans to house them on the Carputty line of credit, which can be used to buy new or used cars, refinance auto loans or buy out leases. As for the Sprinter van he most recently financed through Carputty? 'I couldn't even tell you where it is,' Carter says, 'but it's been gone [rented] since October.' In most cases, if you're looking for an auto loan and having trouble qualifying, it's likely a sign that you're not ready to borrow. After all, traditional car loans are the best way (besides paying in cash) for most of us to finance our vehicles. And their eligibility criteria are meant, in part, to keep you from borrowing a loan you can't afford to repay. But if you're in a situation like Carter's, where you have strong credit and still can't find the ideal loan, consider being flexible about the type of financing you're seeking. Carputty's line of credit is a unique option — you can finance multiple cars on one account, even if you're not a small business owner — but this company doesn't have a monopoly on atypical financing. Some lenders offer commercial auto lines of credit (Ally Financial and National Business Capital, for example) or business auto loans. The keys are to consider your options, shop around with various types of lenders and prequalify to limit any impact to your credit. Carter's advice on becoming a Turo host 'Now, if you're going to buy a couple of $5,000 cars, and you can afford to pay them off, that's different, but … you may want to do a little bit more research before you just buy that dream car and put it on Turo, because I see the horror stories. And we talk amongst the hosts about people buying used Ferraris because they thought it was a niche market for an antique car, and they're stuck with a note.' — Stephen Carter As Carter did, it's wise to consider all of your options, including auto loans and lines of credit as well as personal loans for cars. Consider the pros and cons of various financing types. A line of credit might give you more flexibility, for example, while a loan might carry a lower interest rate. Once you find the right product for your situation, you can spend more time on finding the right vehicle and calculating your potential loan repayment. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nucleus Security Named Hot Company in Vulnerability Assessment, Remediation, and Management at 2025 Global InfoSec Awards
For the second year in a row, Nucleus Security earns top honors at the prestigious cybersecurity awards SAN FRANCISCO, April 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Nucleus Security, the leader in unified vulnerability and exposure management, today announced it has been named the Hot Company in Vulnerability Assessment, Remediation and Management at the 13th annual Global InfoSec Awards, presented by Cyber Defense Magazine during the RSA Conference 2025. "For the second year in a row, we are honored to be recognized by Cyber Defense Magazine and the Global InfoSec Awards," said Stephen Carter, CEO of Nucleus Security. "This award underscores our team's continued commitment to delivering a scalable, risk-driven vulnerability management platform that empowers security teams to proactively protect their organizations. Our continued innovation is driven by our mission to help customers reduce risk and accelerate remediation in an increasingly complex threat landscape." Nucleus Security unifies asset, vulnerability, and threat data from over 160 sources into a single platform to break down silos, prioritize risks, and accelerate remediation efforts. Leveraging advanced automation and real-time threat intelligence, Nucleus enables organizations to rapidly improve their risk posture while simplifying federal compliance as the only FedRAMP® Moderate authorized vendor for vulnerability management. This unified, risk-based approach empowers enterprises and government agencies to manage, monitor, and respond to vulnerabilities at scale, transforming millions of daily security findings into actionable insights and faster risk mitigation. "We scoured the globe looking for cybersecurity innovators that could make a huge difference and potentially help turn the tide against the exponential growth incyber-crime. Nucleus Security is absolutely worthy of this coveted award and consideration for deployment in your environment," said Yan Ross,Global Editor of Cyber Defense Magazine. The Global InfoSec Awards are among the most prestigious in the cybersecurity industry, with winners announced during a red-carpet celebration at RSA Conference 2025 in San Francisco. The full list of Cyber Defense Magazine's Global InfoSec Award winners can be found here: About Nucleus SecurityNucleus Security is the enterprise leader in unified vulnerability and exposure management enabling organizations to prioritize and mitigate vulnerabilities faster, at scale. Delivering unmatched time to value, Nucleus automatically unifies and organizes data from all your security and business tools into a single pane of glass. With powerful dynamic automations, teams can effectively automate their vulnerability management program. As a FedRAMP authorized vendor, Nucleus Security is transforming how enterprises, federal agencies and defense contractors secure their digital assets and networks. To learn more about Nucleus Security for Government, please visit: For more information about Nucleus Security and its services, please visit: About Cyber Defense MagazineCyber Defense Magazine is the premier source of cyber security news and information for InfoSec professions in business and government. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products, and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and special editions exclusively for the RSAC Conferences. CDM is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group. Learn more about us at and visit and to see and hear some of the most informative interviews of many of these winning company executives. Join a webinar at and realize that infosec knowledge is power. Media Contact:pr@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Nucleus Security
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Informa sees more growth in 2025, will partner Dubai World Trade Centre
(Reuters) -Informa, a British events and academic publishing group, said on Thursday 2025 would be another year of double-digit percentage growth, after reporting an 11.6% rise in 2024 underlying revenue and agreeing a partnership with Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). The events sector has experienced a rebound in the last two years, with a notable resurgence in in-person business conferences and exhibitions, after the pandemic-induced disruptions. Chief Executive Stephen Carter said Informa provided a range of services connected to its exhibitions and events, such as data analysis, accreditation and learning services, which were increasingly underpinned by AI. "We're in about 27 markets, and we have a big industry or market-leading trade show, which is the place where everybody in the industry connects, and we put other things around that," he said. Informa said it had agreed a partnership with DWTC to pursue opportunities in exhibitions and event management, targeting revenues of more than $700 million. The deal will bring together leading brands in healthcare, energy, aviation, food and IT, Carter said, adding that the joint venture would also drive growth into adjacent markets. Shares in the group, which hit an all-time high last month, fell by 4% to 784 pence. Informa, the world's largest exhibition group, said it expects double-digit percentage growth in group revenue and adjusted diluted earnings per share, including reported revenues of more than 4.1 billion pounds ($5.29 billion) in 2025. For 2024, revenue came in at 3.55 billion pounds and it logged an adjusted operating profit of 995 million pounds, higher than the 975 million pounds it had forecast. Informa also said it is restarting share buybacks with an initial minimum target of more than 200 million pounds in 2025. ($1 = 0.7744 pounds)
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Informa PLC (IFJPY) (FY 2024) Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue and Strategic Growth ...
Revenue Growth: Double-digit revenue growth in 2024. Adjusted Operating Profit Growth: Over 20% growth in adjusted operating profit. Dividend Growth: Double-digit dividend growth. Free Cash Flow: Strong performance in free cash flow. Share Buyback Program: Recommencing with a minimum of $200 million for the year. Academic Markets Business Revenue: Best-ever revenue and performance in 2024. Recurring Revenue Growth: Around 4% in the academic markets business. B2B Revenue: Expected to be over $4 billion in 2025. Geographic Revenue Growth: Significant growth in the United States, China, Asia, and GCC in Southeast Asia. 2025 Revenue Guidance: 5% consistent group underlying growth; 7%+ for B2B business. Earnings Growth: Another year of double-digit earnings growth expected. Capital Allocation: Focus on reinvestment, dividends, buybacks, and maintaining a strong balance sheet. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Sign with IFJPY. Release Date: March 06, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Informa PLC (IFJPY) reported an outstanding year in 2024 with double-digit revenue growth, over 20% adjusted operating profit growth, and double-digit dividend growth. The company achieved significant international growth, particularly in the United States, China, Asia, and the GCC in Southeast Asia. Investments in enterprise technology platforms and data platforms during COVID-19 are yielding significant returns, boosting confidence for 2025. Informa PLC (IFJPY) has a strong balance sheet, allowing for the recommencement of a share buyback program with a minimum of $200 million for the year. The company has successfully expanded its B2B brand portfolio, now boasting 65 marquee and power brands, up from six a decade ago. Some revenue from academic markets is one-off and non-recurring, which could impact future financial stability. The company did not provide specific adjusted operating profit guidance for 2025, which may cause investor uncertainty. There are concerns about potential impacts from geopolitical factors, such as tariffs and supply chain disruptions, particularly in the US market. The academic segment faces challenges from indirect funding cuts in the US, which could affect research funding and revenue. Despite strong growth, the company acknowledges that the market will remain skeptical and Informa PLC (IFJPY) will need to continue outperforming to see sustained benefits. Q: You haven't been specific on adjusted operating profit guidance for 2025, which might make investors nervous. Can we assume margins won't go backwards compared to 2024? A: Stephen Carter, Group Chief Executive, clarified that Informa has never provided adjusted operating profit guidance except during COVID. He assured that margins will grow and there is no intention to reduce them. Gareth Wright, Group Finance Director, added that the company aims to progressively expand margins through the One Informa period. Q: Can you provide an example of how data offerings enhance revenue per exhibitor at exhibitions? A: Stephen Carter explained that Informa launched a branded product called Lead Insights, initially from their Dubai business, which offers pre-qualified lead products to exhibitors. This service is used to improve marketing efficiency and drive more qualified buyers to trade shows. Q: What is the outlook for forward bookings from January and February shows into 2026? A: Stephen Carter stated that forward bookings are positive, with visibility into the first half of 2025 and beyond. In some regions, particularly the GCC, they are booking for larger shows in early 2026 due to new capacity. Q: Can you update us on the situation in China and its impact on your business? A: Gareth Wright noted that while no events have been traded in China yet for 2025, the company is comfortable with existing growth levels. Both China and Hong Kong have recovered to pre-COVID levels, and the ASEAN business is performing strongly, contributing significantly to regional growth. Q: How should we think about your approach to share buybacks? Is it a permanent strategy? A: Gareth Wright confirmed that share buybacks are part of Informa's permanent capital allocation policy. The company has committed to an initial minimum of GBP200 million for 2025, with the potential for more depending on the year's developments and inorganic investment opportunities. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
