FTSE 100 movers: NatWest slumps after results; DCC recovers

(Sharecast News) - London's FTSE 100 was down 0.1% at 10,364 in afternoon trade on Friday. NatWest slumped despite saying it expects annual earnings to be at the upper end of guidance after posting a 12% jump in first-quarter profits.

Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: "The outlook targets for NatWest have been slightly upgraded, but there is likely to be some disappointment given that they are seen as perhaps overly conservative.

"While the group has now stated that total income should now be at the top end of its previously guided £17.2 billion to £17.6 billion range, the remainder of its targets remain unchanged."

He added: "With high performance comes high expectations, and NatWest has slipped today in terms of outlook rather than delivery. The slightly bearish reaction to the numbers reflects the disappointment, although in context it does little to derail the group's onward march.

"The shares have risen by 22% over the last year, as has the wider FTSE 100, and by 90% over the last two years. The current dividend yield of 5.6% is another strong attraction amid the group's generous shareholder returns programme and the market consensus of the shares as a buy is likely to stay in place, with NatWest continuing to push Barclays to become the preferred play in the sector."

AstraZeneca fell after its experimental breast cancer treatment was given the thumbs down by an advisory panel for the US Food and Drug Administration.

Severn Trent and United Utilities were giving back some gains, having surged on Thursday as investors welcomed plans by the latter to raise £800m to help fund a wide-ranging, multi-billion pound investment in its infrastructure.

Sales, marketing and support services group DCC was the standout gainer, having tumbled on Thursday after saying it rejected a 5,800p per share cash takeover proposal from US investment firms Energy Capital Partners and KKR.

Educational publisher Pearson rallied after saying it was on track to deliver its 2026 guidance as it reported a 4% jump in first-quarter revenues and hailed an "encouraging" start to the year.

FTSE 100 - Risers

Smurfit Westrock (DI) (SWR) 2,896.00p 3.84% DCC (CDI) (DCC) 5,740.00p 3.61% Entain (ENT) 561.60p 3.31% Whitbread (WTB) 2,305.00p 3.18% Metlen Energy & Metals (MTLN) 36.82p 2.64% Unilever (ULVR) 4,390.50p 2.16% Pearson (PSON) 1,101.00p 1.94% Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 3,242.00p 1.50% The Sage Group (SGE) 890.00p 1.44% Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 334.55p 1.38%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

NATWEST GROUP (NWG) 558.00p -4.65% Lion Finance Group (BGEO) 10,530.00p -4.62% Weir Group (WEIR) 2,554.00p -3.77% Severn Trent (SVT) 3,159.00p -3.43% United Utilities Group (UU.) 1,418.50p -2.64% AstraZeneca (AZN) 13,620.00p -2.35% Fresnillo (FRES) 3,165.00p -2.19% IMI (IMI) 2,734.00p -2.08% Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY) 98.18p -1.64% Spirax Group (SPX) 7,058.00p -1.56%