The FTSE 100 Index has remained in a narrow range this week as traders reacted to the rising tensions between the US and Iran. It also wavered as the United States earnings season started, with big names like JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Netflix releasing their earnings. This article looks at some of the top Footsie stocks to watch next week.
Airtel Africa prepares for Airtel Money IPO
Airtel Africa stock has come under pressure this year, erasing some of the gains made last year. It has slumped by 22% from its highest point this year.
The company will be in the spotlight next week as it continues working on the upcoming Airtel Money IPO. It has hired more investment banks for an IPO that is expected to take place later this year.
Estimates are that the company’s money transfer business will be valued at about $10 billion. If this is the ultimate value, it will be the biggest London listing since Wise, the money transfer company, went public.
Airtel Money has thousands of branches and small kiosks across Africa, and has over 54 million customers. Its recent results showed that it posted over $1.35 billion in revenues last year.
BT Group to publish its Q1 earnings
BT Group stock price has slumped in the past few months, moving from the year-to-date high of 241.7p in May to the current 193p. This retreat will be put to the test next week when the company publishes its first-quarter trading statement.
These results will provide more information about the company’s turnaround and what to expect later this year.
The consensus among analysts is that its Q1’27 revenue dropped by 0.9% to £4.7 billion, with its consumer and Openreach making £2.3 billion and £1.57 billion, respectively.
Its business division is expected to bring in £1.2 billion. The closely-watched EBITDA metric is expected to come in at £2.029 billion.
BT Group has been undergoing a turnaround strategy led by Allison Kirkby, who became CEO in 2024. It has announced plans to lay off thousands of workers, exit its international operations, and intensify its investments in Openreach.
Even so, analysts expect that its annual revenue will drop slightly in the next two financial years, with the first growth happening in FY’29. One reason for the slowdown is that it is losing millions of its broadband subscribers.
These results come two weeks after Xavier Niel became a large investor in Vodafone, its competitor.
Compass Group to publish its earnings
Compass Group is a top British company offering food services in over 25 countries. It serves companies and organizations in a wide group of industries, including education, healthcare, sports, and defence.
Compass Group stock has moved sideways since May this year, and the upcoming trading update on July 21 will provide more color about its business.
The last earnings report showed that its business made $25 billion in revenue in the first half of the year that ended on March 31st. Its revenue rose by 9%, while operating profit spiked by 12%.
The operating profit margin rose to 7.4%, helped by overhead leverage and M&A synergies. Next week’s results will provide more information about its growth and the impact of the US-Iran war.
Traders will also watch Watches of Switzerland, a top retailer that published strong results this week.
There are rumours that the company has become an acquisition target, with signs that the luxury sector is bouncing back.
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