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An eventful nine months has seen the UK 100 trade negatively year-to-date during only a single session this year. The UK’s blue-chip index heads into the fourth quarter having traded a 4-month low in September, dipping below 7290 for the first time since May. However, September has seen a reversal of sorts, with the UK Index rallying back above 7300. Below, we unveil the top and bottom 10 performers from the index over the course of the year.
Source: AlphaTerminal; 27 Sept 2017
The notable outperformer of 2017 is UK 100 newcomer NMC Health, up 75%. Having only been promoted to the blue-chip index at the end of Q3, the Middle Eastern focused medical company enjoyed the majority of its YTD gains as a constituent of the . With that said, alongside a new listing comes new opportunities, and the increased exposure could help NMC continue its meteoric rise to the top of the UK 100 .
Other notable names in the top 10 2017 performers so far include Worldpay (2nd; +50.9%) and Unilever (10th; +29.3%) after both rallied on takeover talk; Worldpay accepted a $10.8bn offer from US company Vantiv while Unilever has enjoyed further gains after rejecting a lucrative takeover offer from Kraft Heinz in February.
A mix of European-focused defensive companies, such as Coca-Cola HBC (4th; +39.9%) and Intertek (5th; +39.7%), alongside housebuilder Persimmon (3rd; +41.2%), copper miner Antofagasta (6th; +38%), airline IAG (7th; 33.9%), UK Index newcomer Rentokil (8th; +31.9%) and engineer Rolls-Royce (9th; +29.5%) complete the list.
At the other end of proceedings, Pearson (100th; -25.3%) has returned to the bottom of the UK Index , having jumped a few places higher at the end of the second quarter. The weaker US dollar has continued to weigh on the publisher, alongside pharmaceutical giant Shire (96th; -19.8%), itself falling into the bottom 10 for the first time.
WPP (99th; -24%) has joined the list of underperformers after a second quarter profits warning, while BT (98th; -22.3%), despite only falling a further 1% in Q3, maintains its place in the bottom three performing stocks in 2017.
Barclays (91st; -14.2%) has drifted into the UK 100 underperformers’ list for the first time this year having retreated from an 18-month high in February, however is trading over 5% off its 2017 lows, while Centrica (97th; -20.1%) has fallen further down the list despite evading a Conservative pledge to cap consumers’ energy prices.
On the following pages, we reveal Accendo Markets’ top 10 stocks picks for the third and final quarter of 2017.
This research is produced by Accendo Markets Limited. Research produced and disseminated by Accendo Markets is classified as non-independent research, and is therefore a marketing communication. This investment research has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote its independence and it is not subject to the prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research. This research does not constitute a personal recommendation or offer to enter into a transaction or an investment, and is produced and distributed for information purposes only.
Accendo Markets considers opinions and information contained within the research to be valid when published, and gives no warranty as to the investments referred to in this material. The income from the investments referred to may go down as well as up, and investors may realise losses on investments. The past performance of a particular investment is not necessarily a guide to its future performance. Prepared by Michael van Dulken, Head of Research
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