The FTSE 100 enjoyed its best performance for 15 years in 2025, rising more than 20%. And if the start of January’s anything to go by, 2026 could be another stunning year for the UK’s premier share index. It’s already breached 10,000 points in start-of-month trading.
I’ve identified some top FTSE 100 shares I think could deliver particularly brilliant gains this year. These are Babcock International (LSE:BAB), Coca-Cola HBC (LSE:CCH) and HSBC (LSE:HSBA).
Want to know why I think they’re top blue-chips to consider?
140% gains
Babcock International was the UK defence sector‘s star performer in 2025. It rose more than 140% — beating other sector giants like BAE Systems which rose 59% — as investors recognised the share’s excellent value.
Even now, Babcock shares still look dirt cheap. They trade on a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 23.1 times versus the broader European defence sector, which commands a far higher multiple of 30 times.
As the weekend’s events in Venezuela show, the world is becoming more dangerous and the geopolitical landscape more unstable. They’re conditions that could continue to fuel rapid sales and profits growth for defence companies.
Babcock’s own contract backlog swelled to £9.9bn as of September, driven by growing orders in its Land and Aviation divisions. It’s a top stock to consider despite ongoing supply chain threats in the defence sector.
Fizzy returns
Coca-Cola HBC also deliver spectacular share price gains last year. It rose 41%, though this was still more than double the broader FTSE 100’s rise over the course of 2025.
So what prompted this outperformance? One reason is the company’s enormous exposure to fast-growing regions — sales to its emerging and developing markets in Asia, Africa and Europe leapt 7.9% and 4.8% between January and September. I’m expecting this to continue as consumer spending in these territories rockets.
The star power of Coca-Cola HBC’s labels and successful innovations herein also helped the company’s outperformance last year. With a strong pipeline of new products, I’m expecting further fizzy sales growth in 2026 and beyond.
Fierce market competition remains a significant danger. But as a Coca-Cola shareholder myself, I’m still optimistic of another strong year.
Good omens
I’m also expecting more big things from HSBC shares, another FTSE share in my portfolio. The bank rose 50% in 2026 as trading news continued to impress.
In it most recent update in November, HSBC hiked its income forecasts for 2025, an encouraging omen for the New Year. The bank’s benefitting from a cyclical upturn in its Asian markets, along with its focus on fast-growing industry segments like wealth management.
Can it keep outperforming though, as interest rates fall and margins drop? I think it can, thanks in part to that pivot to fee-based services.
I’m also expecting rapid regional expansion to keep delivering the goods, as HSBC capitalises on Asia’s booming wealth and population levels. Its acquisition last year of Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Bank should also start paying off immediately.
