London, Feb 11, 2026, 09:01 GMT — Regular session
- St James’s Place shares dropped close to 9% early in London trading.
- A sharp selloff hit as new concerns over AI-driven disruption shook financial stocks.
- Attention shifts to the group’s Feb. 25 results, as investors hunt for clarity on flow and cash-return plans.
St James’s Place SJP.L shares slid roughly 9% to 1,318 pence Wednesday, extending a steep two-day losing streak for the UK wealth manager. The stock changed hands in a range from around 1,300 to 1,430 pence.
This shift lands just as the stock had been flirting with a 52-week peak, with investors eyeing a firm deadline later this month. Shares dropped 3.53% to 14.49 pounds on Tuesday; the FTSE 100 shed 0.31%.
Theme-driven selling played a role. U.S. brokerage stocks dropped Tuesday, reacting to Altruist’s move to launch AI-powered tax planning tools—fueling concerns that automation threatens to undercut fees in advice-driven firms. “Traders sell first and ask questions later,” said Dennis Dick, chief market strategist at Stock Trader Network. Morningstar’s Sean Dunlop pointed out some stocks are now trading “prices below our intrinsic valuations.” Reuters
St James’s Place is in the midst of a turnaround, following its overhaul of client charges and broader reforms. The company’s update on Jan. 29 showed gross inflows reached 21.88 billion pounds in 2025, with net inflows — the difference between client money in and out — at 6.16 billion pounds. Funds under management rose to 220.01 billion pounds. CEO Mark FitzPatrick called it “a strong year for SJP.” St. James’s Place
The group has informed shareholders to look for a 50% return of its underlying cash result between 2024 and 2026. That’s set to include annual dividends of 18 pence per share, with the rest coming via buybacks.
The path forward isn’t straightforward. SJP’s earnings move with market levels via FUM, so if global equities slide again, fee income takes a hit. A shift in client mood can also swing inflows and withdrawals fast.
Trading the AI theme is tricky. Sure, the technology can cut costs and streamline routine planning, but there’s a flipside: it might squeeze prices further in sectors that used to charge premium rates for specialized, hands-on advice.
Investors in Europe are grappling with concerns that the latest AI models could shake up traditional businesses—a fear that’s already sparked notable swings in certain market sectors this month.
SJP’s final results land Feb. 25. Investors are watching for details on flows out to early 2026, the charging shake-up, and any tweaks to the outlook for cash returns.
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