Stocks Rise

Headlines say Stocks rise as investors shrug off uninspiring GDP figures and all stock picks this week 67% BUY, 19% HOLD and 14% SELL.

OVERWEIGHT Croda

Top performing stock pick this week is OVERWEIGHT Croda International by JP Morgan with a tip performance of 8%.

Croda International is a British speciality chemicals company. Founded in 1925, Croda is listed in London under the ticker CRDA and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.

Croda share price launched at 217p in 1988, reached an all-time high of 10,410p and is today at 3,132p.

JP Morgan moved the market with the reiteration of its’ OVERWEIGHT rating on this stock and a new target price of 4,000p up from 3,153p placed on 10th February. Croda shares went up around 8% and the stock went to the top of the FTSE 100 index for the day.

Four analysts in Stockomendation: JP Morgan with OVERWEIGHT; Goldman Sachs has SELL; Jon Smith says WATCH and Jefferies has HOLD. Four open UK fund manager short positions, view those here.

BUY Pan African Resources

Second top interesting stock pick this week is BUY Pan African Resources by Berenberg with a tip performance of 5%.

Pan African Resources is a British mining company with gold interests in South Africa and Australia.

Pan African Resources share price launched at 4p in 2000 and is today at its' all-time high of 146p. Listed in London and Johannesburg.

In its’ latest RNS issued 11th February Pan African Resources is warning the market that its profits for the six months to 31 December 2025 will be dramatically higher than the same period last year. Because the increase is so large (well above the JSE’s 20% threshold), they are required to issue this trading statement. The huge jump in earnings was driven by a much higher gold price and significantly increased gold production.

Berenberg upped its’ target price from 145p to 154p. Two analysts in Stockomendation both with BUY — they are Berenberg and Canaccord Genuity. No open fund manager short positions.

BUY Taylor Wimpey

Third top interesting stock pick this week is BUY Taylor Wimpey by Simon Watkins in The Motley Fool with a tip performance of 5%.

Taylor Wimpey is a British home construction company created from the merger of Taylor Woodrow founded 1921 and George Wimpey founded 1880. Listed in London under the ticker TW., it is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Taylor Wimpey share price launched at 235p in 1989, rose to an all-time high of 386p in 2007 and is today at 116p.

Rumours abound that Labour will revive the old Help to Buy scheme which will benefit housebuilders in London and the South-East namely Taylor Wimpey amongst others. Early signals suggest that the mere possibility of a Help to Buy revival is improving sentiment toward mainstream UK housebuilders. Help to Buy historically boosted demand for new-build homes, and demand-side stimulus tends to move the market faster than supply-side reforms.

The news has acted as a sentiment catalyst, reinforcing an already improving backdrop for housebuilders. Investors are essentially pricing in the possibility of a demand-boosting policy rather than a guaranteed outcome. The biggest beneficiaries — if the scheme returns — would likely be the large, southern-exposed volume builders whose sales rates are most sensitive to first-time-buyer demand.

Mainstream volume builders with heavy exposure to the South and South East would gain the most from a Help to Buy style restart, because that’s where affordability constraints bite hardest and where first-time-buyer demand is most sensitive to equity loan support. Partnerships-focused and London-centric developers benefit far less.

Five analysts in Stockomendation: Citi, Jefferies and Simon Watkins say BUY; Goldman Sachs is NEUTRAL and RBC Capital has OUTPERFORM. Six open UK fund manager short positions — view those here.

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Disclaimer: The contents of this article should not be considered financial advice. Pricing data correct as at 12th February 2026.