FTSE 100 movers: Croda jumps on Q3 numbers, Whitbread tumbles

(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was down 0.3% at 9,398.70 in afternoon trade on Thursday. Premier Inn owner Whitbread tumbled as it downgraded its full-year profit outlook for Germany and posted a drop in group interim profits and revenue.

In the 26 weeks to 28 August, adjusted pre-tax profit fell 7% from the same period a year earlier to £316m, while revenue dipped 2% to £1.5bn.

Whitbread said profit reflects broadly flat UK total accommodation sales and positive momentum in Germany, offset by expected lower food and beverage sales due to the continued implementation of its 'Accelerating Growth Plan'.

The company downgraded its FY26 adjusted pre-tax profit for Germany to "up to £5m", from previous guidance of between £5m and £10m. It pointed to a softer market performance in the second quarter as there was a lower number of high-impact events this year.

On the upside, Croda shot to the top of the index as it reiterated its full-year outlook after the speciality chemicals group posted a jump in third-quarter sales.

Updating on trading, the blue chip said revenues had risen by 4.4%, or by 6.5% on a constant currency basis, to £424.7m in the three months to 30 September.

Growth was led by an 8.1% jump in sales in Croda's largest division, consumer care, to £241.6m, alongside a 5.9% uplift in life sciences to £133.8m.

Centrica was also a high riser as Barclays upgraded shares of the British Gas owner to 'overweight' from 'equalweight' and upped the price target to 210p from 180p, to reflect increased confidence in the company's upside potential.

"This positive view is underpinned by Centrica's effective redeployment of cash into value-accretive investments, particularly in Sizewell C, Meters, and LNG, which has been the primary catalyst for our price target increase," it said.

"Looking ahead, we see further upside that is not yet reflected in our price target, notably from potential additional capital allocation to nuclear (including SMRs) and the Rough gas storage site."

Barclays added that despite recent gains, Centrica remains undervalued relative to peers.