Thursday preview: Rio Tinto, Centrica results due

(Sharecast News) - Results are due on Thursday from miner Rio Tinto, British Gas owner Centrica and paper and packaging group Mondi. As far as Rio is concerned, Derren Nathan, head of equity analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, said the company's mines look to be producing at full tilt as Simon Trott prepares for his first set of full-year results as chief executive.

"Last month's fourth-quarter production report saw new records being broken, including shipments from the flagship Pilbara iron ore operation, as well as production of copper, bauxite, and lithium. Rio, as a minimum, met all 2025 guidance with added beats on copper and bauxite," he said.

"Full-year free cashflow is forecast to fall from $6.5 billion to $2.7 billion, reflecting higher levels of capital expenditure. But with iron ore and copper prices strengthening over the second half, there may be some scope for upside. With the Glencore tie-up now firmly off the table, attention will turn back to the outlook for 2026, with first production from Ghana's Simandou mine and a restructuring at the Iron Ore Company of Canada likely to be the key dial movers."

In Europe, Nestle, Airbus, Zurich Insurance, Pernod Ricard, Accor, Renault, Air France-KLM and Klarna are among those slated to report.

In the US, Walmart, Deere and Newmont will release results.

Jefferies said its data points to a solid fourth quarter for Walmart, with US comps of 4.5% supported by healthy ticket and traffic, roughly in line with consensus, while Sam's Club trends appear modestly softer.

"The bigger debate is guidance," the bank said. "We expect a conservative FY27 outlook, below consensus due to lower inflation, Maximum Fair Pricing, and tariffs, which could disappoint versus expectations, despite a fine quarter."

Thursday February 19

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

BRCK Group

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alumasc Group, Gateley (Holdings) , Moonpig Group , Mountview Estates, Puma Vct 13, Van Elle Holdings

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

M Winkworth

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BP, Greencoat Renewables (CDI), GSK

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (US) (19:00)

Continuing Claims (US) (19:00)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (22:30)

Current Account (EU) (14:30)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (19:00)

Pending Homes Sales (US) (20:30)

Philadelphia Fed Index (US) (19:00)

Wholesales Inventories (US) (19:00)

FINALS

Centrica, IRISH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES REIT P IRISH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ORD SHS, Mondi, Rio Tinto

SPECIAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

BioPharma Credit , BioPharma Credit , Plus500 Ltd (DI), Shires Income

AGMS

Cerillion , Critical Metals , Critical Metals , Critical Metals , Diales Group, Red Rock Resources

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

CEPS

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Barclays, easyJet, Impax Asset Management Group, Imperial Brands , Jersey Electricity 'A' Shares, Plus500 Ltd (DI)