Economy

FTSE 100 shares to watch: Aviva, National Grid, Compass, Burberry

The FTSE 100 Index wavered this week even after the Bank of England (BoE) slashed interest rates by 0.25% and the US reached a trade deal with the United Kingdom (UK) on Thursday. 

After initially peaking at £8,637 on Tuesday, the index has pulled back to £8,530. This article looks at some of the top FTSE 100 shares to watch next week as they publish their financial results.

Compass Group (CPG)

Compass Group is a top British company in the food services industry with a market cap of over £44.58 billion. It offers its services to schools, colleges, mining facilities, hospitals, and sports venues. 

Compass Group will be in the spotlight as it publishes its trading statement on Wednesday next week. These numbers comes at a time when the Compass Group stock price has jumped to 2,610p, up by 11.3% from its lowest level this year. 

These numbers will provide more information about its business and whether its growth momentum has continued. It made over $42 billion in 2024, up by 10.8% in 2023, while its operating profit jumped by 11.7% to $2.58 billion. 

The management guided its annual operating profit growth to a high single-digit level, and its revenue growth came in at 7.5%. 

Burberry (BRBY)

Burberry is a top British company in the luxury goods market, where it competes with other European brands like Hermes, LVMH, and Kering. It is no longer a member of the FTSE 100 Index after its stock collapsed from 2,447p in 2023 to 556p last year. 

Burberry share price has attempted to bounce back, rising in the last three consecutive weeks and moving to the highest level since March. 

The upcoming earnings on Wednesday will provide more data on whether its business has started to stabilize. Its most recent trading statement showed that its retail revenue dropped by 7% in the fourth quarter to £659 million. Comparable store sales dropped by 4%, while its Chinese revenue fell by 7%. 

The Burberry share price will likely do well if it demonstrates that the Chinese revenue is falling at a slower rate. 

Read more: Burberry’s turnaround plan: what to make of shares jumping 22% despite losses?

Aviva (AV)

Aviva share price has done well in the past few years as its turnaround efforts have worked. Most recently, the stock has risen for five consecutive weeks and is hovering at its all-time high. It has jumped by over 33% this year, making it one of the top performers in the FTSE 100 Index. 

Aviva stock’s rally continued after it revealed plans to buy Direct Line, its smaller rival, as it seeks to grow its market share in the motor insurance industry. It will also shed over 2,300 jobs in a bid to cut costs. 

Aviva shares will be in the spotlight next week as it publishes its financial results. The most recent numbers showed that its annual operating profit jumped to £1.7 billion, a big increase from the £1.46 billion it made a year. 

National Grid (NG)

The National Grid share price has retreated in the past three weeks. It has moved from a high of 1,102p in April to the current 1,055p. It remains about 35% from its lowest level in 2024. 

The most recent numbers showed that National Grid’s business came under pressure in the last six months. Its operating profit dropped by 34% to £1.39 billion, while the profit before tax fell by 50% to £684 million.

The most notable National Grid news was that the company raised £7 billion rights issue as it seeks to deliver its five-year £60 billion investment plan.

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