Here's why the IAG share price jumped ~40% in 2025

Core Insights - IAG's share price experienced significant growth in 2025, continuing a positive trend from 2024, with a rise of approximately 40%, leading to a market capitalization exceeding £18 billion [1] - The company outperformed other major airlines, with Delta and United Airlines showing increases of 17% and 8.4% respectively, while the US Global Jets ETF rose by 10% [1] Financial Performance - IAG's revenue for the first nine months of the year reached €25 billion, marking an increase of nearly 5% compared to the same period last year [2] - Operating profit surged by 18.3% to €3.9 billion, significantly exceeding analyst expectations [3] - Profit-after-tax increased by 15% to €2.7 billion, and earnings per share (EPS) rose by 20.2% to €57.2, driven by strong performance in key regions like North Atlantic and Europe [3] Capacity and Expansion - The company has expanded its North Atlantic capacity through its brands, including British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, while also focusing on growth in the Latin American market [4] - IAG has added new routes in response to rising demand, with Aer Lingus expanding to Indianapolis, Nashville, and Minneapolis, and British Airways adding routes to Milan and Kuala Lumpur [5] Financial Health and Shareholder Returns - IAG's balance sheet has improved, ending the last quarter with over £8.7 billion in cash and equivalents, and reducing borrowings from £17.34 billion to £14.7 billion [6] - The company is committed to reducing leverage while expanding its fleet, including a $13 billion order from Boeing [7] - IAG has completed a €1 billion share buyback, reducing outstanding shares, and continues to pay dividends with a current yield of about 2.7%, indicating intentions to increase payouts [7] Stock Performance and Technical Analysis - The IAG stock price has shown a strong upward trend, moving from a low of 205.9p in April to 400p, with a peak of 425p on November 3 before dropping to 362p [8] - A double-bottom pattern formed at 362p, and the stock remains above all moving averages, suggesting potential for further gains, with a key resistance level at 425p and a psychological target of 500p [9]