Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 19th February 2026

ASIA

APAC stocks traded higher following the positive handover from the US and with South Korea outperforming amid tech strength on return from the Lunar New Year holidays. ASX 200 rallied to a fresh record high with the gains led by strength in telecoms and energy, as the former was boosted alongside Telstra, which reported a 9.3% increase in H1 net profit, while energy stocks benefitted from the rise in underlying oil prices amid geopolitical frictions. Nikkei 225 gained with sentiment underpinned by a weaker currency and stronger-than-expected Machine Tool Orders. KOSPI outperformed on return from the Lunar New Year holiday closure as tech stocks played catch-up to the rebound in their US counterparts, including index heavyweight Samsung Electronics, as its shares rallied by around 5% to a record high.

EUROPEAN CLOSES

CLOSES: Euro Stoxx 50 +1.34% at 6,103, Dax 40 +1.16% at 25,287, FTSE 100 +1.23% at 10,686, CAC 40 +0.81% at 8,429, FTSE MIB +1.30% at 46,361, IBEX 35 +1.35% at 18,198, PSI +0.76% at 9,143, SMI +0.30% at 13,805, AEX +1.48% at 1,011

SECTORS: IT 3.19%, Energy 2.04%, Materials 1.87%, Industrials 1.86%, Financials 1.60%, Consumer Disc 0.82%, Utilities -0.15%, Healthcare -0.17%, Consumer Stpl -0.30%, Telecoms -1.37%

FTSE 100

LSEG (LSEG LN) - Activist investor Elliott is reportedly pushing for a divestment and a GBP 5bln share buyback, according Bloomberg citing sources. (Bloomberg)

Rio Tinto (RIO AT/ RIO LN) - FY (USD): Revenue 57.6bln (exp. 57.0bln). Adj. net 10.9bln (exp. 10.8bln). Underlying EBITDA 25.4bln (exp. 24.7bln). Net 9.97bln (-14% Y/Y). (Rio Tinto) 

OTHER UK COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

DAX

OTHER GERMAN COMPANIES

Knorr-Bremse (KBX GY) - FY 2025 (EUR): Revenue 7.82bln (exp. 7.81bln), EPS 3.33 (exp. 3.54), EBIT 903.3mln (exp. 910.7mln); Outlook revenue between 8-8.3bln (exp. 8.24bln). (Knorr-Bremse)

BROKER MOVES

CAC

Accor (AC FP) - FY 2025 (EUR): Revenue 5.64bln (prev. 5.61bln Y/Y); guides initial FY26 recurring EBITDA 1.2bln (prev. 1.12bln Y/Y), Diluted earnings per share 2.33 (prev. 1.84 Y/Y). (Accor)

Airbus (AIR FP) - FY 2025 (EUR): EPS 6.61 (exp. 6.24), Revenue 73.4bln (exp. 73.7bln), Adj. EBIT 7.1bln (exp. 6.96bln). Proposed dividend of EUR 3.20/shr (prev. EUR 3.00/shr Y/Y). Co. sees 2026 deliveries at about 870 aircraft (exp. 896). FY Outlook: Adj. EBIT 7.5bln (exp. 8.16bln). CEO: "Global demand for commercial aircraft underpins our ongoing production ramp-up, which we are managing while facing significant Pratt & Whitney engine shortages". Airbus reports EUR 500mln impairment related to the A220 program post-Spirit Aero acquisition. (Airbus)

Danone (BN FP) - Cereulide found in two baby formula samples recalled by Danone (BN FP), according to Swiss authorities. (Newswires)

Euronext (ENX FP) - FY25 (EUR): EPS 6.29 (exp. 6.42), Revenue 1.82bln (exp. 1.82bln), Adj. EBITDA 1.14bln (exp. 1.13bln). (Euronext)

Orange (ORA FP) - Q4 2025 (EUR): Revenue 10.6bln (prev. 10.4bln Y/Y. FY: Revenue 40.4bln (exp. 40.2bln), Net income 1.14bln, Operating income 3.44bln, -36% Y/Y, due to increased costs related to the French part time for seniors plans, the depreciation of the copper dismantling asset and accounting for the impairment of Orange Business activities. For the full year 2025, the payment of a dividend of EUR 0.75/shr will be proposed. (Orange)

Pernod Ricard (RI FP) - H1 2025 (EUR): Revenue 5.25bln, -5.9% Y/Y. Organic revenue -5.9% (exp. -5.7%); Co. sees sales improving over FY26. Soft H1 in a contrasted environment, broadly stable when excluding US and China, for which the declines are amplified by inventory adjustments, with growth in many markets across all regions. Co. mulls listing its India business, according to Bloomberg. (Bloomberg / Pernod Ricard)

Renault (RNO FP) - FY25 (EUR): Revenue 57.9bln (exp. 57.7bln), Net -10.7bln (exp. -9.87bln, prev. 891mln Y/Y), operating margin 6.3% (exp. 6.33%, prev. guided around 6.5%), FCF 11.47bln (exp. 11.9bln). Dividend/shr EUR 2.20 (exp. 2.21). Sees FY26 operating margin around 5.5% (exp. 5.89%). Net loss due to the inclusion of Nissan’s impacts: EUR -9.3 billion non-cash loss resulting from the evolution of the accounting treatment for the investment, and EUR -2.3 billion in the contribution of associated companies. (Renault)

OTHER FRENCH COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

Capgemini (CAP FP) upgraded to Equal Weight from Underweight at Morgan Stanley

PAN EUROPE

Aegon (AGN NA) - H2 2025 (EUR): Operating result 858mln (prev. 776mln Y/Y), Net result 421 (prev. 741mln Y/Y). (Aegon)

Arcadis (ARCAD NA) - FY 2025 (EUR): Net revenue 3.76bln (prev. 3.88bln), EBITA 523mln (prev. 557mln Y/Y), EPS 2.33 (prev. 2.70 Y/Y); Co. returned EUR 225mln to its shareholders, through dividends and its share buyback program. (Arcadis)

Brunello Cucinelli (BC IM) - FY 2025 (EUR): Net Income 135mln (exp. 141mln), Revenue 1.41bln (exp. 1.41bln). (Brunello Cucinelli)

Geopols - US gathers the greatest amount of air power in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion and President Trump are being briefed on military options for striking Iran, even as aides hold talks with the Iranian regime, according to WSJ. (WSJ)

Italian Energy - Italy Cabinet approves decree to cut energy bills, ANSA reports. (ANSA)

BROKER MOVES

SMI

Nestle (NESN SW) - FY 2025 (CHF): Net Profit 9.03bln (exp. 10.08bln), Revenue 89.5bln (exp. 89.7bln), Organic growth +3.5% (exp. 3.4%), Pricing +2.8% (exp. 2.64%), Dividend/shr CHF 3.10 (exp. CHF 3.10). Sees FY26 organic growth between 3-4%; in advanced negotiations to sell remaining ice cream business to Froneri. Free cash flow expected to be above CHF 9bln. (Nestle)

Zurich Insurance (ZURN SW) - FY 2025 (USD): Net income: 6.8bln (exp. 6.55bln) P&C insurance revenue 48.23bln (prev. 44.79bln Y/Y). (Zurich Insurance)

OTHER SWISS COMPANIES

BROKER MOVES

SCANDINAVIA

ISS (ISS DC) - FY 2025 (DKK): Revenue 84.7bln (prev. 83.76bln Y/Y), Free cash flow 2.65bln (prev. 2.0bln Y/Y). (ISS)

BROKER MOVES

US

CLOSES: SPX +0.56% at 6,881, NDX +0.80% at 24,899, DJI +0.26% at 49,663, RUT +0.45% at 2,659

SECTORS: Utilities -1.70%, Real Estate -1.45%, Consumer Staples -0.53%, Industrials +0.01%, Health +0.21%, Communication Services +0.31%, Materials +0.77%, Financials +0.78%, Technology +0.97%, Consumer Discretionary +1.00%, Energy +2.00%.

DoorDash (DASH) - Shares climbed 14% in extended trading after an initial drop, despite reporting earnings, revenue and guidance below expectations, as investors appeared reassured by strong order growth and management’s confidence in its investment strategy. Q4 EPS 0.48 (exp. 0.58), Q4 revenue USD 3.96bln (exp. 3.99bln). Q4 Total Orders +32% Y/Y to USD 903mln, Marketplace GOV +39% Y/Y to USD 29.7bln. Management highlighted strong performance at Deliveroo and reiterated investment in building a unified global platform integrating DoorDash, Deliveroo and Wolt, describing it as a significant and costly undertaking to support AI-driven innovation. Sees Q1 Marketplace GOV between USD 31.0-31.8bln, and adj. EBITDA between USD 675-775mln (exp. 802mln).

Ebay (EBAY) - Shares jumped 6.4% in extended trading after it reported a Q4 beat, issued strong Q1 guidance, and announced the USD 1.2bln acquisition of Depop from Etsy (ETSY). Q4 adj. EPS 1.41 (exp. 1.35), Q4 revenue USD 2.97bln (exp. 2.87bln); Q4 GMV +10% Y/Y to USD 21.2bln. Management cited momentum across strategic priorities and continued investment in AI to enhance customer experience. Raised its dividend +7% to 0.31/shr, and authorised an additional USD 2bln of share repurchases. Will acquire Depop from Etsy for approximately USD 1.2bln in cash, funded from cash on hand, with the transaction expected to close in Q2 2026. Sees Q1 adj. EPS between 1.53-1.59 (exp. 1.48), and Q1 revenue between USD 3-3.05bln (exp. 2.8bln).

Meta Platforms (META) - Meta is reviving its smartwatch ambitions, with plans to launch a device as early as this year, The Information reports. The revived “Malibu 2” watch is expected to include health tracking and a built-in Meta AI assistant. The move follows Meta’s renewed wearables push, including AI-powered smart glasses with EssilorLuxottica (ESLOY), as the company repositions its hardware strategy around AI.

Molson Coors (TAP) - Molson Coors shares fell 5.6% in extended trading after it issued a weaker-than-expected outlook, warning of significant commodity inflation headwinds, and forecasting a decline in earnings. Q4 EPS 1.21 (exp. 1.15), Q4 revenue USD 2.66bln (exp. 2.71bln). Management said it navigated a challenging macro environment and industry dynamics in 2025. It announced a 3yr cost savings programme targeting up to USD 450mln, with savings beginning in 2026, aimed at mitigating inflationary pressures and supporting investment. Highlighted strong balance sheet and said solid cash generation, which has supported a growing dividend and ongoing share repurchases alongside investment in brands. Sees FY26 net sales flat +/- 1% vs 2025, and sees underlying EPS decline between 11-15% vs 2025, citing commodity inflation as a meaningful headwind despite expectations for improving top-line trends.

19 Feb 2026 - 07:01- Geopolitical- Source: Newsqauwk