It has been a bumpy Q1 in markets, with quite a divergence in performance between UK large-caps and small/mid-caps. The FTSE index is 4.2% higher, and back above the 10,000 level again, while the FTSE 250 is down 3.9%.
Partly this is down to the weight of energy and commodity stocks in the FTSE 100. It’s also partly down to M&A, with the top two large-cap performers both now takeover targets.
FTSE 100 movers
Excluding Beazley (BEZ) and Schroders (SDR), the big gainers are mostly up on the war in Iran and worsening geopolitics. Energy, mining and defence have been ‘safe havens’, and are likely to remain so the longer the conflict drags on.
The big losers on the other hand look more structurally challenged, with housebuilders taking two of the bottom 10 positions. Companies percieved to be at risk from AI are also prevalent, such as Autotrader (AUTO), Experian (EXPN), Intertek (ITRK) and Sage (SGE).
FTSE 100 gainers and losers in Q1
| Stock | Price Return % | Stock | Price Return % |
| Beazley | 52.2 | Barratt Redrow | -31.7 |
| Schroders | 41.2 | Entain | -26.8 |
| BP | 40.1 | ICG | -26.0 |
| Glencore | 39.1 | 3i | -25.3 |
| Shell | 30.8 | Metlen | -24.4 |
| BAE Systems | 28.4 | Experian | -22.7 |
| Centrica | 25.3 | Sage | -22.6 |
| SSE | 19.1 | Persimmon | -21.3 |
| Rio Tinto | 15.8 | Intertek | -21.1 |
| Endeavour Mining | 15.2 | Autotrader | -19.9 |
Source: Stockopedia
FTSE 250 movers
Among small- and mid-cap stocks, energy has obviously been a popular choice with investors once again. That said, there are a few less familiar gainers like AEP Plantations (AEP), Ashmore (ASHM) and Schiehallion (MNTN).
On the losing side, unsurprisingly, are more housebuilders along with staffing firms and airlines. Joining them are Goodwin (GDWN), following its unexpected profit warning, and serial underperformer Aston Martin Lagonda (AML).
FTSE 250 gainers and losers in Q1
| Stock | Price Return % | Stock | Price Return % |
| Ithaca Energy | 55.6 | Vistry | -48.2 |
| Harboour Energy | 52.5 | Goodwin | -47.4 |
| Ceres Power | 48.9 | Aston Martin Lagonda | -42.9 |
| Senior | 46.8 | Pagegroup | -41.4 |
| Raspberry Pi | 43.2 | Hays | -40.8 |
| Hunting | 33.9 | THG | -36.4 |
| Schiehallion Fund | 27.2 | Shawbrook | -34.2 |
| AEP Plantations | 23.7 | Wizz Air | -33.4 |
| Clarkson | 20.8 | Bellway | -32.8 |
| Ashmore | 19.8 | easyJet | -32.0 |
Source: Stockopedia
AIM 100 movers
Taking our analysis a step further, the best AIM 100 performers also include plenty of energy and commodity names. Defence makes a fleeting appearance, courtesy of Cohort (CHRT), while it’s encouraging to see Polar Capital Holdings (POLR) getting recognition.
The losers include several media and technology names, plus two legal high-flyers which have come back to earth with a bump. While one or two of the gainers are ‘Super Stocks’, several of the losers are ‘Falling Stars’ or ‘Value Traps’ according to Stockopedia.
AIM 100 gainers and losers in Q1
| Stock | Price Return % | Stock | Price Return % |
| Guardian Metal Resources | 85.2 | Burford Capital | -53.2 |
| Serica Energy | 68.2 | Seeing Machines | -43.0 |
| Petrotal | 54.1 | LBG Media | -35.6 |
| Kistos Holdings | 41.7 | YouGov | -34.1 |
| Cohort | 33.8 | Beeks Financial Cloud | -33.7 |
| Sovereign Metals | 28.1 | Everplay | -32.9 |
| Gooch & Housego | 24.3 | dotDigital | -31.4 |
| MP Evans | 21.6 | Craneware | -31.1 |
| Polar Capital Holdings | 14.5 | Next 15 | -29.5 |
| Greatland Resources | 13.4 | Keystone Law | -26.3 |
Source: Stockopedia
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