Springer Nature reports as follows:
- Strong performance with 6.2% underlying revenue growth and 7.7% underlying growth in adjusted operating profit (AOP)
- Research underlying revenue growth of 7.2%; Journals outgrowing the market through leadership in open access (OA)
- AI is accelerating scientific progress. Springer Nature’s AI tools are reducing friction in publishing, driving dissemination of trusted knowledge and maintaining research integrity
- Free cash flow up €64m to €268m; net debt €1.2bn; leverage ratio 1.6x
- 2026 guidance updated: underlying revenue growth c.6% (previously 5% to 6%) with underlying AOP margin improvement of at least 30 basis points (previously c.30bps)
- Divestment of consumer media business announced. Transaction expected to be accretive to Research AOP
Springer Nature delivered strong results in H1 2026. Revenue increased to €939.8m (H1 2025: €925.9m) with 6.2% underlying growth, driven by Research, led by continued strength in Journals including growth across the full open access (FOA), Nature and Springer portfolios.
Adjusted operating profit rose to €246.2m (H1 2025: €240.6m), representing underlying growth of 7.7%, reflecting improved product mix and operating leverage.
Frank Vrancken Peeters, CEO of Springer Nature, said: “We delivered a strong first half, with our Research segment again outperforming the market. This reflects our leadership in open access, the use of AI-enabled tools, and our continuous investment in growth. We launched 39 new journals and Nature Books, a new imprint in academic books. Reflecting recent momentum, we have updated our guidance and now expect underlying growth of around 6% in 2026.”
Segments
Research reported revenue of €748.0m (H1 2025: €730.7m) with underlying growth of 7.2% driven by the Journals portfolio. The number of published articles rose by around 13% compared to estimated market growth in the period of around 8%.
By mid-year, Springer Nature had completed nearly all of its 2026 contract renewals.
During H1 2026, the company launched 39 new journals, including Nature Progress Oncology, Nature Progress Brain Health, Scientific Reviews, a multidisciplinary sister journal to Scientific Reports publishing narrative reviews, BMC Sustainability, and 14 new Discover titles including Discover Telecommunications.
In July, Springer Nature announced the launch of Nature Books, a new imprint combining research area expertise of in-house Nature editors with our leadership in academic books.
During the first half, the company signed 19 new transformative agreements (TAs) with national consortia, government bodies and research institutions to further support the transition to OA, bringing the total number of TAs in place at period-end to 101. Springer Nature’s TAs now cover over 4,400 institutions.
Springer Nature continues to invest in AI and technology, building on its trusted brands, content and deep domain expertise. AI is driving research progress and the company is embracing AI to transform the publishing process, strengthen research integrity and improve dissemination of knowledge.
During H1 2026 over 60% of submissions were processed using SNAPP, the company’s integrated, AI-enabled publishing platform. Nature Research Assistant, an AI tool for researchers in beta testing, introduced Manuscript Adviser to users. The tool helps authors strengthen the scientific rigor of their manuscripts, improving confidence in quality before submission.
Book revenue increased, with growth in print and digital. Digital revenue benefited from the timing of eBook package deliveries to institutional customers.
Services revenue benefited from growth in text and data mining (TDM) solutions for corporate customers, offset by a more challenging market for advertising and talent-related services in the US. Springer Nature recently announced an ARC3 AI partnership with a leading medical information platform. ARC3 provides customers access to trusted scientific content within AI-powered environments.
Adjusted operating profit in Research grew 8.2% in underlying terms to €228.7m (H1 2025: €219.6m), exceeding the growth in revenue during the period, driven by operating leverage and efficiency measures.
During H1, Springer Nature announced plans to divest its consumer media business - Scientific American in the United States and Spektrum der Wissenschaft in Germany. Scientific American was acquired by LabX Media Group, on 24 June 2026. The agreement to sell Spektrum to GeraNova Bruckmann completed on 31 July 2026.
Financial terms of the transactions have not been disclosed. Scientific American and Spektrum der Wissenschaft together contributed approximately €25m to Research revenue in 2025. The transactions will be slightly accretive to adjusted operating profit.
In Health, revenue was €89.9m (H1 2025: €90.4m), with underlying growth of 1.3%. Performance benefited from growth in DACH markets, partially offset by declines in International Healthcare and the Netherlands. In International Healthcare, economic and regulatory uncertainty impacted pharmaceutical industry marketing spending. In the Netherlands revenue performance reflected a strong comparison in H1 2025, which benefited from a new edition of the Schlichting language acquisition test.
Adjusted operating profit in Health increased 1.2% on an underlying basis to €15.3m (H1 2025: €15.4m), broadly in line with revenue growth.
Education revenue was €102.8m (H1 2025: €105.5m), reflecting underlying growth of 3.5%. Growth in revenue was led by Southern Africa, with good growth in Zimbabwe; early phasing of ordering patterns in Western Europe; and growth in India. Growth in these regions was partially offset by lower revenue in Argentina reflecting the comparison to a large government order in H1 2025.
On a reported basis, Education revenue declined 2.6%, primarily due to hyperinflation in Argentina and the strength of the Euro against the Indian Rupee.
Adjusted operating profit in Education increased 4.4% in underlying terms to €2.3m (H1 2025: €5.5m). On a reported basis, adjusted operating profit declined 58.8% due to the impact of the adverse foreign exchange movements described above.
Outlook
In March, the company set out expectations for FY 2026 revenue to grow in underlying terms between 5% and 6% with AOP margin increasing by around 30 basis points in underlying terms. The company now expects underlying revenue growth of around 6% with AOP margin increasing by at least 30bps in underlying terms.
Alexandra Dambeck, CFO of Springer Nature, said: “The strong performance delivered in H1 2026, together with our updated guidance, demonstrates the strength of our portfolio and our continued ability to grow AOP ahead of revenue while investing in initiatives that will drive long term growth.”
The results in full can be seen here.
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