London, Feb 7, 2026, 09:22 GMT — Markets are shut.
- Compass Group ended Friday at 2,125p, down 2.48%, lagging as the FTSE 100 moved higher.
- The caterer stuck with its 2026 outlook, while first-quarter organic revenue climbed 7.3%.
- Next up for investors: a strategy deep dive slated for Feb. 9, followed by the planned move to dollar-denominated trading on the LSE kicking in April 1.
Shares of Compass Group PLC (CPG.L) slipped 2.48% to finish at 2,125 pence on Friday, while the FTSE 100 managed a 0.59% gain. The stock, which is now trading ex-dividend before its final payout slated for Feb. 26, remains roughly 26% under its 52-week high. 1
The contract caterer faced a hectic week, with its trading update showing demand holding steady. Still, investors have been eyeing something else: if artificial intelligence cuts into white-collar jobs, what does that mean for office footfall?
Compass reported a 7.3% jump in organic revenue for the first quarter, with net new business growth landing between 4% and 5%. Client retention stayed strong, topping 96%. Business & Industry stood out again, especially in North America, where first-time outsourcing deals fueled double-digit gains. The company stuck to its 2026 outlook and confirmed it will shift its London share trading currency from pounds to U.S. dollars starting April 1 but will remain in the FTSE index. A virtual deep dive on sector strategy is scheduled for Feb. 9.
Compass, the world’s biggest caterer, posted quarterly revenue that topped estimates on Thursday and stuck to its full-year outlook, yet shares tumbled to their lowest point since early 2021 during the session. The company pulls in about 20% of its revenue from tech, professional, and financial services, and CEO Dominic Blakemore told analysts there’s “more opportunity than risk” from AI. Only 10%-15% of Compass’s white-collar office exposure is in entry-level spots, he noted. GLP-1 weight-loss drugs? Analysts pressed on those, but Blakemore said there’s been zero effect so far. 2
Tough timing. Investors, already uneasy about the fallout from AI, watched big tech dial up spending, adding pressure to software and data stocks and fueling debate over automation’s winners and losers. 3
JPMorgan’s Estelle Weingrod flagged pressure on the stock from both currency moves and fresh AI concerns, especially around office roles. She doesn’t expect a “sound in-line” trading update to turn investor sentiment around either. At AJ Bell, Dan Coatsworth said Compass might be “next on the block” for a main listing switch to the U.S., especially since North America now accounts for the bulk of its revenue. 4
Compass wrapped up its annual general meeting on Thursday, with shareholders voting in favor of every resolution on the ballot—including the final dividend proposal. 5
Yet the story remains on shaky ground. A drop in office attendance, or a sudden slowdown in hiring by tech and finance clients, could send workplace catering volumes tumbling in a hurry — and the market isn’t showing any patience for confirmation in the figures.
Compass faces its next challenge on Monday: a Feb. 9 investor deep dive on sector strategy. Traders will then keep a close eye on the stock as the April 1 dollar-trading switch approaches. Fresh signals on office demand and contract momentum will likely drive the action.
