London, Jan 8, 2026, 09:29 GMT — Regular session
- IAG shares rose in London trade, hovering near recent highs after fresh broker calls.
- Bernstein lifted its price target; Morgan Stanley launched coverage on the U.S.-listed ADRs.
- Investors are positioning ahead of IAG’s FY-2025 results later this quarter.
Shares in British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) rose 0.7% to about 435 pence on Thursday, extending a strong run after Bernstein lifted its target price on the airline group. 1
The move matters now because IAG has become a crowded Europe travel trade, with investors looking for proof that high fares and a tighter aircraft market can keep feeding cash flow. The next big test is IAG’s FY-2025 results, due on Feb. 27. 2
Morgan Stanley, in a note on Tuesday launching coverage of IAG’s U.S.-listed ADRs, pointed to “tight capacity growth” on the North Atlantic and said it sees a clearer path for profits to turn into cash returns for shareholders. The bank’s analysts, led by Axel Stasse, also flagged British Airways’ turnaround and growth in the loyalty business as potential earnings drivers. 3
IAG has been trading near a one-year high this week after a 2.8% jump in the previous session, when it closed at 4.37 pounds and set a new 52-week peak, MarketWatch data showed. 4
Traders also have an eye on levels: the stock has traded between roughly 432 and 437 pence so far on Thursday and remains just shy of its recent 52-week high near 439 pence, according to Investing.com data. 5
But the set-up is not clean. Airlines remain exposed to fuel and currency swings and to any wobble in premium travel demand, and IAG has previously warned of softer conditions in parts of the U.S. market, even when profits beat expectations. 6
