Lagardère profit up 19.1% as Hachette publishing sales go flat

Lagardère reported H1 2026 net profit up 19.1% year-on-year, with total revenue of €4.44 billion. Its publishing division — Lagardère's largest revenue contributor, housing Hachette Livre imprints — posted €1.343 billion in sales, down 0.4% from €1.349 billion a year earlier. Travel retail carried the group's growth while publishing held steady. Net debt fell €201 million. Lagardère released results on July 29, 2026.