London, February 19, 2026, 09:14 GMT — Regular session
- GSK slipped 0.4% early in London, pressured by fresh real-world data on Arexvy and with the stock now trading ex-dividend.
- Researchers found Arexvy was tied to a reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations and showed lower incidence of certain RSV complications.
- Investors are watching for more data out of the RSV conference, along with any fresh details on buybacks and the upcoming dividend schedule.
GSK slipped 0.39% to 2,259 pence by 0901 GMT in early London trading, following new real-world data on its RSV shot Arexvy and the stock going ex-dividend. The shares had kicked off at 2,252 pence, just a day after touching a 52-week peak of 2,282 pence; they’ve climbed roughly 57% in the last year.
Vaccines are back in the spotlight. Investors continue to scrutinize Arexvy’s results, especially the scope of its use, with the next RSV season looming.
There’s a mechanical factor at play Thursday. Once a stock hits its ex-dividend date, buyers aren’t entitled to the next dividend—the share price typically drops to account for it.
GSK shares went ex-dividend on Thursday, according to Hargreaves Lansdown data, setting up for an 18 pence quarterly payout scheduled for April 9.
GSK on Wednesday said it plans to roll out fresh data on its Arexvy RSV vaccine at the RSVVW’26 conference in Rome. According to a U.S. retrospective claims study involving more than 2.5 million adults, Arexvy was linked with a 75.6% effectiveness rate against RSV-related hospitalisation in people aged 60 and up. The shot also showed 63.1% effectiveness for preventing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)—including heart attack and stroke—during hospitalisations tied to RSV. Deepak L. Bhatt at Mount Sinai suggested RSV vaccination “could help reduce the risk of certain serious RSV-related outcomes.” GSK’s Christian Felter pointed to the results as supporting “the value of our RSV vaccine.” Still, GSK noted the study’s observational nature means it can’t show causality. GSK US
GSK disclosed in a regulatory update Wednesday that it snapped up 420,000 shares on Feb. 17, paying a volume-weighted average price of 2,231.39 pence as part of its buyback program. The company will keep the purchased stock in treasury.
GSK’s shares slipped at the open, but not by the full 18p of the dividend. That left traders debating: was it just the dividend coming out of the price, or did the RSV data have something to do with the move?
Competition in the RSV vaccine space is intense. In the United States, Pfizer’s Abrysvo, Moderna’s mRESVIA, and GSK’s Arexvy are all cleared for use in older adults.
Still, the latest data won’t end the argument. This study is retrospective, built on associations rather than cause and effect. Further analysis could weaken the cardiovascular link or reveal it’s relevant only for a limited subset of patients.
European shares slipped on Thursday, pressured by a scattershot batch of earnings and escalating U.S.-Iran tensions—a combination that can easily drown out even the usual safe havens, healthcare included.
Markets have their eyes on any new details from RSVVW’26 and updates on buyback activity, as well as the April 9 dividend payout, which remains a key date for income-focused investors.
