Jun 22, 2026 · 6 min
European stocks move as EasyJet rejects buyout and Carrefour climbs
EasyJet Gains, Carrefour Climbs, Babcock Drops
Corporate maneuvers and analyst ratings are reshaping European market valuations, highlighting which companies are successfully defending their independence.
- 1EasyJet rejected a third takeover proposal from US investment firm Castle Lake, sparking a surge in its share price.
- 2Morgan Stanley upgraded French retailer Carrefour to overweight, driving positive momentum for the supermarket chain.
- 3Babcock International shares fell after the defense firm missed its annual profit estimates despite launching a buyback.
Don't miss
EasyJet surges after standing its ground and rejecting a third takeover proposal from Castle Lake.
The brief
European stock markets are seeing major shifts as corporate giants navigate takeover bids, analyst upgrades, and disappointing earnings reports that test investor confidence.
EasyJet shares surged after the airline rejected a third takeover proposal from US investment firm Castle Lake, signaling strong confidence in its independent growth strategy.
French retailer Carrefour received a significant boost as Morgan Stanley upgraded the supermarket operator to an overweight rating, driving its share price upward.
Meanwhile, British engineering firm Babcock International saw its stock decline after missing full-year profit estimates, despite trying to soothe investors with a share buyback.
What was said on this episode
3 statements · 2 positive · 1 negative
EasyJet assesses Castle Lake’s takeover proposal as contrary to shareholder interests.
“EasyJet has said they're rejecting the proposal because it's not in the best interest of their shareholders.”
Listen at 1:31
Morgan Stanley rates Carrefour overweight with a price target above €20.
“Morgan Stanley has resumed coverage with an overweight rating and a street high price target of over €20.”
Listen at 2:31
Morgan Stanley’s Carrefour price target implies approximately 29% upside from Friday’s close.
“That price target is about a 29% increase from Friday's close.”
Listen at 2:38
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
Carrefour
Castle LakeBooks & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.