The UK stocks benefiting from vaccine-related news according to HSBC

In a recent research note, HSBC have released a list of FTSE 350 stocks with positive reaction to vaccine-related market news and a few with negative reaction to vaccine news. The companies are from various sectors including Travel & Leisure, Financial Services, and Food & Drug Retailers.

Outperformers
HSBC note there has been seven days with “vaccine-related” market news, be that positive data released from companies such as Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE) or AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) or regulatory approvals. On those seven days, the company that has performed best in the FTSE 350 has been WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH). The retailer has had positive performance on six of the seven days relative to the FTSE 350 and on average has outperformed by 6.28%. WH Smith would be set to benefit from a reopening of the travel industry as the company has stores in travel hubs such as railway stations and airports.

The next best performer has been Restaurant Group PLC (LON:RTN). The company – which owns popular restaurant brands including Frankie & Benny’s, Wagamama and Chiquito – would also benefit from a faster reopening of the economy. HSBC note the company has outperformed the FTSE 350 on five of the seven days of positive vaccine news and shows an average relative performance of 5.49%. Other names in the travel & leisure sector that have outperformed the index include Mitchells & Butlers PLC (LON:MAB), Whitbread PLC (LON:WTB), and Stagecoach Group PLC (LON:SGC).

Financial services companies that have reacted positively to vaccine news include Provident Financial PLC (LON:PFG), Close Brothers Group plc (LON:CBRO) and Virgin Money UK PLC (LON:VMUK). In 2019, all three of those companies generated 100% of their revenue domestically. From the three companies, Virgin Money had the best positive performance, outperforming the FTSE 350 on five days by an average of 3.89%.

Underperformers
The list of underperformers is shorter and generally consists of companies in the retail industry, particularly food retailers. Ocado Group PLC (LON:OCDO) and WM Morrison Supermarkets PLC (LON:MRW) have underperformed the FTSE 350 on all seven days of positive vaccine related news. Ocado has fallen on average 5.05% and WM Morrison by a daily average of 2.07%.

Other retailers that have underperformed include Pets at Home Group PLC (LON:PETSP), Howden Joinery Group Plc (LON:HWDN) and B&M European Value Retail SA (LON:BMEB). All three of the companies have been underperformed the FTSE 350 on six of the seven days of vaccine news.