WISE Depart

Headlines say Wise moves primary listing to New York in blow to London and all stock picks this week are a mix of 73% BUY, 13% HOLD and 14% SELL.

1. OVERWEIGHT Babcock

Top performing stock pick this week is OVERWEIGHT Babcock International Group by JP Morgan with a tip performance of 13%.

Babcock International Group PLC is a UK-based FTSE 100 company operating in the defense, aerospace, and security sectors. It designs, develops, manufactures, and integrates specialist systems, offering a range of services and products for both defense and civil markets. Babcock is listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.

Babcock share price launched at 173p in 1993, rose to an all-time high of 1,271p in 2014 and is today at 1,065p.

In the news this week as Keir Starmer prepares for world war 3 with his announcements to make the UK ‘battle-ready’ where there exists no threat in sight with calls for ‘war-fighting readiness.’

Critics have accused Starmer's government of hypocrisy for accepting extravagant gifts whilst raising taxes, pursuing economic austerity and cuts to welfare, with Labour MP Rosie Duffield resigning from the party in protest. Gifts accepted incude £16,000 worth of clothing from Labour peer Waheed Ali.

Defence stocks are through the roof this week with Babcock gaining more than 15% on the announcements. Babcock stock has doubled in 2025 and soared to their highest in a decade at the announcement.

In Stockomendation three analysts, two with BUY They are Shore Capital and Berenberg, and JP Morgan with OVERWEIGHT. There are no active UK fund manager short positions.

2. BUY QintetiQ

Second top performing stock pick this week is BUY QinetiQ Group by Berenberg with a tip performance of 7%.

QinetiQ is a British defence technology company headquartered in Farnborough, Hampshire. It operates primarily in the defence, security and critical national infrastructure markets and run testing and evaluation capabilities for air, land, sea and target systems. It is currently a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index<.

QintetiQ share price launched at 213p in 2006, rose to an all-time high of 556p where it is today.

Another defence stock jumps to its all-time high thanks to political war cries from the prime minister. QintetiQ derives 57% of its business from MoD spending so the new 3% defence spending target sent stocks soaring.

Berenberg reiterated a BUY rating and raised the target price from 500p to 570p.

In Stockomendation Berenberg says BU, Shore Capital has HOLD and Helen Cahill says SELL. Two open fund manager short positions, view those here.

3. OUTPERFORM Jubilee Metals

Third top performing stock pick this week is OUTPERFORM Jubilee Metals Group by RBC Capital with a tip performance of 7%.

Jubilee Metals Group is a UK-based diversified metals producer with operations in Africa, primarily focused on processing metals from previously overlooked resources. They recover metals from tailings, waste rock, and other sources, producing high-grade concentrates. The company operates through three segments: PGM and Chrome, Copper and Cobalt, and Other.

Jubilee Metals share price launched at 17p in 2002, rose to an all-time high of 123p in 2007, and is today at 4p.

In the news this week about a deal for a conditional binding offer from a private mining and metals trading company to acquire the Group’s chrome and platinum operations in South Africa for a consideration of up to US$90 million.

In Stockomendation two analysts RBC Capital with OUTPERFORM and Canaccord Genuity with SPECULATIVE BUY. There are no active short positions.

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Disclaimer: The contents of this article should not be considered financial advice. Pricing data correct as at 5th June 2025.