FTSE 250 movers: Howden soars; Ocado slumps
By Frank Prenesti
Date: Thursday 26 Feb 2026
(Sharecast News) - FTSE 250 (MCX) 23,660.03 0.10%
Howden Joinery gained as it announced a new £100m share buyback for 2026 and reported a rise in full-year profit and revenue.
Jupiter Fund Management surged after it announced a share buyback of up to £30m and a special dividend, as it reported better-than-expected full-year profits and the first calendar year of positive net inflows since 2017.
Animal genetics firm Genus was also sharply lower despite decent interim results, following recent share price strength.
WPP was under pressure as it said it was planning to save £500m in annual costs by 2028 as it looks to restore growth.
As part of the restructuring, the advertising firm will become a single company, streamlined into four operating units across four regions, all unified by its "pioneering agentic marketing platform", WPP Open.
News of the overhaul came alongside the company's preliminary results, which showed that headline operating profit fell to £1.32bn in the year to the end of December 2025 from £1.71bn the previous year. Revenue less pass-through costs declined 10.4% to £10.18bn.
Tate & Lyle fell as it said its third-quarter performance was in line with expectations but highlighted continued muted market demand.
Shares in grocer and technology group Ocado slid after it said it would be slashing around 1,000 jobs as part of a drive to save £150m in costs after setbacks to its automated warehouse programme rollout.
Aston Martin Lagonda slumped after posting losses on Thursday.
FTSE 250 - Risers
Howden Joinery Group (HWDN) 945.00p 10.40%
Kainos Group (KNOS) 748.50p 6.25%
Me Group International (MEGP) 132.40p 6.09%
Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 199.40p 6.06%
Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 1,349.00p 4.25%
Trustpilot Group (TRST) 143.80p 3.98%
Carnival (CCL) 2,416.00p 3.96%
WPP (WPP) 282.30p 3.63%
Mony Group (MONY) 169.40p 3.55%
Playtech (PTEC) 368.00p 3.52%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 49.00p -11.31%
Genus (GNS) 2,880.00p -9.15%
Ocado Group (OCDO) 215.60p -8.26%
Tate & Lyle (TATE) 378.00p -5.31%
Harbour Energy (HBR) 233.00p -3.88%
Derwent London (DLN) 1,777.00p -2.90%
BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM) 1,010.00p -2.88%
Ashmore Group (ASHM) 237.20p -2.71%
HGCapital Trust (HGT) 416.50p -2.34%
Morgan Sindall Group (MGNS) 5,030.00p -2.33%
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