Stocks to Buy Today in Ireland: 10 ISEQ Shares to Watch on 8 December 2025

Dublin, 8 December 2025 – Ireland’s stock market is heading into the final weeks of the year near record territory, powered by bank shares, homebuilders and exporters. With fresh economic data, new share buyback announcements and a high‑profile dividend move from Ryanair all landing in the last few days, investors are asking a simple question: which Irish stocks make sense to research or buy today?

Important: This article is for information and journalism only. It is not personalised investment advice. Always do your own research and consider speaking to a regulated financial adviser before investing.

Ireland stock market today: ISEQ hovers near 52‑week highs

The ISEQ Overall Index is trading around 12,690 points today, according to live data from Investing.com. ^[1]

That puts Dublin’s market just below recent peaks and close to the top of its 52‑week range (roughly 9,165–12,926 points). ^[2] TradingEconomics data show the index was at 12,742 on Friday, 5 December, up about 4.5% over the past month and roughly 30% year‑on‑year – an impressive run for a relatively small market. ^[3]

Recent market wraps from TS2 Tech highlight how banks, homebuilders and Ryanair have repeatedly led the ISEQ higher, with the index rebounding above 12,300 on 24 November and brushing a fresh 52‑week high at the end of the month. TechStock²+1 Homebuilders and insurers were singled out as key gainers in late November, underlining how domestic Ireland‑focused plays are back in favour.

Macro backdrop: strong growth, robust services – but valuation warnings

The bullish tone on the Irish market rests on some strikingly strong economic data:

Domestic demand is surging. Ireland’s “modified domestic demand” – a cleaner measure of local activity that strips out multinational distortions – grew 2.3% in Q3 vs Q2 and is 4.1% higher year‑to‑date, according to Central Statistics Office figures reported by Reuters. ^[4]
GDP remains elevated. Despite a small 0.3% dip in Q3, GDP is still 15.8% higher for the first nine months of 2025, thanks largely to booming pharmaceutical exports to the US. ^[5]
Services are on a tear. The AIB Ireland Services Business Activity Index rose to 58.5 in November from 56.7 in October – its fastest pace in three and a half years – with the strongest growth in financial services and technology/media/telecoms. ^[6]
Bank of Ireland has upgraded its own forecasts, now seeing GDP growth of 10.7% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026, and forecasting robust domestic demand supported by strong wages, public spending and a still‑busy housing market. ^[7]

At the same time, policymakers are not complacent. The Central Bank of Ireland’s latest Financial Stability Reviewwarns that stretched valuations in parts of global markets and ongoing economic uncertainty are now among the main risks facing the Irish financial system. ^[8]

For equity investors, this combination – strong growth, high profits, but richer valuations – suggests that stock selection matters more than ever. Below are 10 Irish‑listed shares drawing attention today, grouped by theme.

How we picked today’s Irish stocks to watch

Rather than a simple “top 10 buys” list, this selection combines:

Recent performance and analyst sentiment – drawing on TradingView’s list of best‑performing Irish stocks over the past year and its analyst‑rating snapshot. ^[9]
Fresh news dated around 8 December 2025 – including dividends, buybacks and regulatory filings.
Macro relevance – banks, builders and exporters that are tightly linked to Ireland’s economic cycle.

Think of these as starting points for further research, not definitive recommendations.

1. AIB Group (A5G / AIBG): high‑yield bank at the centre of the rally

1‑year performance: about +60%.
Latest price: roughly €8.7 per share, with a P/E near 9.7x and a trailing dividend yield around 5.7%, according to TradingView. ^[10]

AIB has been one of the workhorses of the ISEQ rally, benefitting from higher interest margins, loan growth and Ireland’s still‑resilient domestic demand. TradingView data show analysts skewed toward “Buy” on the name, reflecting solid profitability metrics and a generous payout. ^[11]

Why investors are watching it today

The latest macro data (domestic demand and services PMI) favour well‑capitalised banks with strong retail and SME franchises. ^[12]
Higher capital buffers and better asset quality than in the pre‑crisis era mean banks like AIB can sustain more attractive dividends than in past cycles.

Key risks

The Central Bank’s warning on stretched global valuations plus any unexpected slowdown in consumer spending or housing could hit sentiment toward Irish banks quickly. ^[13]

2. Bank of Ireland Group (BIRG): macro winner with upgraded ratings

1‑year performance: roughly +83%.
Recent price: about €15.7–16.0 per share in London trading, P/E near 13x and yield around 3.3%. ^[14]

Bank of Ireland has ridden the same tailwinds as AIB – higher rates and robust lending – but also plays a central role in shaping the economic narrative through its own forecasts, which now assume double‑digit GDP growth in 2025. ^[15]

While the full S&P report is paywalled, public summaries note that ratings on several Irish banks, including Bank of Ireland and AIB, were upgraded in November, reflecting stronger capital positions and steady profitability. ^[16]

Why investors are watching it

Direct beneficiary of the pharma‑led export boom and increased investment in the economy. ^[17]
A cleaner balance sheet and upgraded credit ratings support the investment case for those seeking a mix of growth and income.

Risks

A sharp reversal in interest‑rate expectations or any global credit shock could hit highly rated bank shares that have already re‑rated higher this year.

3. Permanent TSB Group (PTSB): domestic bank with big 2025 run‑up

1‑year performance: about +97%, making it one of Ireland’s best‑performing stocks in 2025.
Price & valuation: around €2.94 per share, with a P/E a little above 22x, according to TradingView. ^[18]

PTSB has transformed from a perennial laggard into a high‑beta play on the Irish consumer and housing market. Its share price has nearly doubled over the past year as profitability improved and the cost of risk remained contained. ^[19]

A fresh regulatory filing today shows Goldman Sachs has sold its remaining relevant holdings in PTSB, reporting zero securities and derivatives exposure after offloading 2,798 shares in a “Borrow Full Return” transaction. ^[20]

Why it’s on watchlists

High 1‑year performance plus falling free‑float overhang from large shareholders make this a popular trading stock.
Leverage to domestic housing, wages and employment – all still trending positively, even if growth is slowing at the margin. ^[21]

Risks

Valuation is no longer cheap relative to AIB or Bank of Ireland.
Any negative headline around mortgage arrears or housing policy could hit the shares disproportionately.

4. Ryanair Holdings (RYA): dividend tweak, growth story intact

Ryanair is one of Ireland’s best‑known corporates and a major ISEQ heavyweight.

1‑year performance: roughly +44%.
Valuation: TradingView shows a P/E around 12.8x and a dividend yield of about 1.6%. ^[22]

A fresh Simply Wall St note dated 8 December 2025 reports that Ryanair’s board will trim its dividend to €0.193 per share, down about 13% from last year’s €0.223, giving that 1.6% yield. Even after the cut, earnings coverage is strong and analysts expect EPS to grow around 14% next year, with earnings having grown at over 50% per year over the past five years. ^[23]

Reuters also highlighted Ryanair’s role in the broader economy this week, noting that accelerated aircraft deliveries from Boeing helped drive the jump in Ireland’s Q3 investment numbers. ^[24]

Why growth‑oriented investors like it

Exposure to recovering European travel, with structural cost advantages and a powerful brand.
The dividend “cut” is more a recalibration to support reinvestment rather than a sign of stress, according to current coverage. ^[25]

Risks

Oil price spikes or renewed geopolitical tensions would hurt margins.
Any operational issues with Boeing deliveries or regulatory scrutiny on pricing could weigh on sentiment.

5. Glenveagh Properties (GVR): buybacks plus a housing pipeline

Ireland’s chronic housing shortage has put homebuilders in the spotlight – and Glenveagh has been one of the key listed plays.

From TradingView’s performance screen:

1‑year performance: about +21%.
Price & valuation: around €1.90 per share, P/E about 8.6x. ^[26]

Fresh news for 8 December

A regulatory announcement published this morning confirms that Glenveagh bought back 90,508 shares on 5 December at an average price of roughly €1.97, as part of its ongoing share buyback programme on Euronext Dublin. These shares will be cancelled, leaving about 520.4 million shares in issue. ^[27]

This comes on top of strong 2025 interim results, where Glenveagh reported:

906 home completions in H1 2025, up from 424 a year earlier.
Revenue more than doubling to €341.6m for the half‑year. ^[28]

Why it’s on watchlists

Direct beneficiary of Bank of Ireland’s forecast that housing completions will reach 34,500 units in 2025, the highest since the Celtic Tiger period. ^[29]
Ongoing buybacks mean each remaining share represents a slightly larger stake in the business.

Risks

A policy‑driven change in housing incentives or zoning taxes could affect margins.
Homebuilding is cyclical: if rates stop falling or unemployment rises, demand could cool rapidly.

6. Kingspan Group (KRX): global insulation leader with buyback firepower

Kingspan, the building‑materials and insulation giant, is another ISEQ heavyweight:

1‑year performance: around +5%, more muted than banks but still positive.
Valuation: TradingView data show a price near €75 and a P/E a little above 20x. ^[30]

In a trading update on 10 November, Kingspan reported:

Sales up 8% for the nine months to September 2025, reaching €6.8bn.
An expected 2025 trading profit of about €950m, roughly 5% ahead of 2024.
Net debt of €1.9bn and €93m deployed so far in a €650m two‑year share buyback, representing about 1.35m shares repurchased. ^[31]

The company is also exploring a partial IPO of 25% of its Advensys business on Euronext Amsterdam in early 2026, which could further highlight value in its portfolio. ^[32]

Why investors like the story

A global decarbonisation theme: energy‑efficient building products are a long‑term structural growth area.
Consistent profitability and active capital allocation (including buybacks).

Risks

Valuation is already at a premium to many building‑materials peers.
Any slowdown in European construction or negative ESG headlines could hit the shares.

7. Kerry Group (KRZ): quality food ingredients giant leaning on buybacks

Kerry Group, a global leader in taste and nutrition for the food industry, has had a tougher year share‑price‑wise:

1‑year performance: roughly –15%.
Valuation: price near €77, P/E around 18x, yield about 1.7%. ^[33]

New on 8 December

A regulatory announcement this morning shows Kerry bought back 17,982 shares on 5 December at prices between about €78.15 and €78.55, at an average of €78.38 per share. The repurchases form part of a €300m buyback programme running until 27 February 2026, and the shares will be cancelled, leaving around 161.3m shares in issue. ^[34]

Why it’s interesting here

After a year of underperformance, buybacks at these levels effectively signal management’s confidence in long‑term value.
Exposure is global rather than purely Irish, offering diversification away from domestic banks and builders.

Risks

Slower volume growth or pricing pressure from food manufacturers could compress margins.
FX swings and global consumer‑spending trends matter more than Irish macro data.

8. Uniphar (UPR): healthcare services with steady growth

Uniphar, a healthcare services and pharma distribution group, has quietly become one of the best‑performing mid‑caps on the Irish market:

1‑year performance: about +66%.
Valuation: price around €3.66, P/E close to 15x. ^[35]

In its 2025 interim results, Uniphar flagged strong trading momentum and guided for high single‑digit organic gross‑profit growth for the full year. ^[36]

Separately, in July the group rebranded its On Demand business as Uniphar | Global Sourcing, strengthening its positioning as a strategic sourcing partner to global pharma clients. ^[37]

Why it’s on growth investors’ radar

Leverages global healthcare and pharma supply‑chain trends, not just Irish demand.
Less rate‑sensitive than banks or property plays.

Risks

Execution risk on acquisitions and international expansion.
Margin pressure if customers push harder on pricing or if regulatory compliance costs rise.

9. Greencoat Renewables (GRP): high‑yield renewables with 2025 headwinds

For investors looking beyond banks and builders, Greencoat Renewables offers exposure to wind and solar infrastructure across Ireland and continental Europe.

1‑year performance: roughly –20%.
Price & yield: TradingView shows a price near €0.71 with a very high indicated yield around 9–10%. ^[38]

It has been a rough year operationally. Greencoat reported a €68m loss for the first half of 2025 amid one of the weakest wind periods on record in northern Europe, as covered by The Irish Times. ^[39]

Even so, management maintained dividend payments totalling about €37.7m and reiterated its goal of a progressively rising annual dividend (2025 target: 6.81c per share). Recent asset disposals worth €139m were used to reduce gearing to around 52% on a pro‑forma basis. ^[40]

Why income‑oriented investors watch it

Offers one of the highest yields on the Irish market, backed by long‑term contracted cashflows.
Direct play on Europe’s renewable‑energy transition.

Risks

Weather volatility, power‑price swings and regulatory changes can all affect cashflows.
High yields often signal higher risk – investors must check whether the payout is sustainable in downside scenarios.

10. FBD Holdings (EG7): domestic insurer riding the recovery

FBD, a long‑standing Irish insurer focused on farming and SME customers, has staged an impressive share‑price recovery:

1‑year performance: about +23%.
Valuation: price around €15.55, P/E just over 10x and a dividend yield above 6.5%, with TradingView showing a consensus “Strong Buy” rating. ^[41]

The stock has benefited from strong underwriting results and higher investment income as yields rose, while Ireland’s improving domestic backdrop supports demand for commercial and motor insurance.

Why it rounds out many Irish portfolios

Offers a different risk profile from banks while still tied to domestic economic health.
High income potential, though investors should consider the cyclicality of claims and weather‑related losses.

Risks

Catastrophe events (storms, floods) could hit earnings in any given year.
Competitive pressure or regulatory changes to pricing and reserves.

How to think about “stocks to buy today” in Ireland

With the ISEQ trading near record levels and up about 30% year‑on‑year, Irish equities are no longer the deep value they appeared in late 2022–2023. ^[42] That doesn’t mean there’s no opportunity – but it does mean investors should be more selective:

Lean into structural themes, not just 12‑month performance.
- Banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB) benefit from higher rates and a healthier banking system.
- Builders (Glenveagh) and building‑products names (Kingspan) ride Ireland’s housing and retrofit needs.
- Export‑driven champions (Ryanair, Kerry, Kingspan again) provide global diversification.
Watch capital‑allocation signals.
- Share buybacks at Glenveagh, Kingspan and Kerry suggest management sees value at current prices. ^[43]
- Dividend policies – from Ryanair’s gentle reset to Greencoat’s ambitious yield – offer clues about management confidence and risk appetite. ^[44]
Balance income and growth.
- High‑yield names like AIB, FBD and Greencoat can anchor an income‑focused portfolio, but they carry different risk profiles. ^[45]
- Growth‑oriented investors may prefer Uniphar, Kingspan or Ryanair, where capital gains potential may outweigh modest yields.
Stress‑test your thesis against macro risks.
- The Central Bank’s warning on valuations is a reminder that earnings hiccups or global shocks can hit richly priced assets hard. ^[46]
- Ireland’s heavy reliance on a small group of multinationals – especially in pharma and tech – remains a key fiscal and economic vulnerability. ^[47]

Bottom line

On 8 December 2025, Ireland’s stock market is still riding a powerful wave of economic growth and investor enthusiasm. Banks like AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB remain at the core of the rally; Ryanair offers cyclical growth with a disciplined dividend policy; and domestically focused names such as Glenveagh, FBD and Uniphar provide targeted exposure to housing, insurance and healthcare. Meanwhile, Kingspan, Kerry and Greencoat Renewables round out the opportunity set with global and infrastructure angles.

For investors asking “Which stocks should I buy today in Ireland?” the most realistic answer is:

Focus on a shortlist of high‑quality names,
Check valuations and balance sheets carefully,
And build a diversified portfolio that can withstand the inevitable bumps in the Irish – and global – economic cycle.

ISEQ 20