London, Jan 31, 2026, 08:09 GMT — Market closed
- GSK shares gained 1.3% on Friday in London, pushing their rally into a second day.
- Results are set for Feb. 4, with investors focused on 2026 guidance and major product trends.
- A busy slate of global earnings and the U.S. jobs report on Feb. 6 might shift risk appetite.
GSK shares gained 1.32% on Friday, closing at 1,876.5 pence. The stock outperformed a stronger FTSE 100 but still remains roughly 9% shy of its 52-week peak from December.
Since the market is closed for the weekend, this move takes on extra weight—it sets the stage for the midweek earnings test, when the company must prove its worth instead of just benefiting from momentum.
GSK plans to release its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings at 0700 GMT on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The company will also host a webcast.
Investors are keen to hear management’s outlook for 2026, focusing on the stability of demand for major vaccines and whether newer specialty drugs can sustain growth.
The bar isn’t set low. Back in October, GSK upgraded its 2025 sales forecast, citing strong gains in specialty medicines. It projected revenue growth of 6% to 7% and expected “core” earnings per share — an adjusted profit metric — to rise between 10% and 12%. Reuters
In New York, the company’s U.S.-listed ADRs — which trade like shares and track the London stock — closed Friday 1.86% higher at $51.60.
Broader markets face a tough test. “For those companies where expectations have become very, very lofty, the onus is going to be on them to deliver,” said Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors. Investors are bracing for a heavy earnings slate and the U.S. jobs report due Feb. 6. Reuters
Company-specific moves are driving activity. Last week, GSK struck a $2.2 billion deal to acquire RAPT Therapeutics, aiming to bolster its pipeline with a food-allergy therapy in development. The company also signaled upcoming shifts in ownership of its HIV joint venture, ViiV.
That rally doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing. If guidance stays cautious, vaccine demand disappoints, or costs and R&D expenses catch the market off guard, the stock could slip—headlines about profit aside.
