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(Sharecast News) - Wednesday sees the release of full-year and fourth-quarter results from drugs giant GSK, while DCC, SSE and Watches of Switzerland will publish third-quarter trading statements.
As far as DCC is concerned, UBS said the company is becoming a pure-play energy business so the performance of this division will be a key focus for investors.
"And as ever with DCC, the market will be looking for any M&A announcements or updates on their plans to sell the remaining technology business," the bank said.
"DCC typically does not provide quantitative guidance for the next financial year, but management are currently guiding for 'good' operating profit growth for FY'26e overall."
In Europe, results are due from Novo Nordisk, Banco Santander, UBS and Carlsberg, among others.
Derren Nathan, head of equity analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, said investor sentiment towards Novo Nordisk bottomed out following another downgrade to revenue and profit guidance at its third-quarter update in November.
"Ignoring exchange rate moves, 2025 full-year revenue is now expected to rise 8-11%, with operating profit growth faring worse at 4-7%," he said. "But it's been a promising start to 2026, with take-up of the company's recently launched Wegovy pill for weight management helping to claw back some US market share from arch-rival, Eli Lilly.
"Attention now turns to this year's outlook, with pricing and insurance coverage likely to be key points of focus. It's a complex picture, but, on balance, we think there could be some upside to consensus forecasts of a small fall in 2026 sales. Of course there can be no guarantee, but recent strength in the valuation suggests we're unlikely to be alone in this view."
Across the pond, Alphabet, Uber Technologies, Qualcomm and Boston Scientific are slated to report, along with CostCo.
Wednesday February 04
QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE
British American Tobacco
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)
Factory Orders (US) (15:00)
ISM Prices Paid (US) (15:00)
ISM Services (US) (15:00)
MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)
PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)
PMI Composite (GER) (08:55)
PMI Composite (US) (14:45)
PMI Services (EU) (09:00)
PMI Services (GER) (08:55)
PMI Services (US) (14:45)
Producer Price Index (EU) (10:00)
Q4
GSK
FINALS
GSK
EGMS
IG Design Group
AGMS
AJ Bell, Premier Miton Group, Watkin Jones
TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS
DCC (CDI), Entain, Gem Diamonds Ltd. (DI), Watches of Switzerland Group
UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
PMI Composite (09:30)
PMI Services (09:30)
FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE
AJ Bell