eyeQ: are IAG shares facing tailwinds or tailspin?
Experts at eyeQ use AI and their own smart machine to analyse macro conditions and generate actionable trading signals. Here it considers the British Airways owner ahead of annual results.
26th February 2026 11:21
by Huw Roberts from eyeQ
British Airways’ desks at Pearson International Airport in Ontario, Canada. Photo: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images.
“Our signals are crafted through macro-valuation, trend analysis, and meticulous back-testing. This combination ensures a comprehensive evaluation of an asset's value, market conditions, and historical performance.” eyeQ
- Discover: eyeQ analysis explained | eyeQ: our smart machine in action | Glossary
IAG
Macro Relevance: 71%
Model Value: 432.45p
Fair Value Gap: +3.49% premium to model value
Data correct as at 26 February 2026. Please click glossary for explanation of terms. Long-term strategic model.
British Airways’ parent International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LSE:IAG) reports earnings tomorrow. That means analysts will pore over company fundamentals to update their bottom-up views on the stock.
Note though that eyeQ’s macro relevance score is 71%, so macro is important too. The good news is macro conditions are in an uptrend - model value has risen 4% so far in 2026.
That’s mainly because the stock has positive sensitivity to inflation expectations and they rose nearly 0.5% in January. But, more recently, inflation expectations have rolled back over and that explains why the model’s upward momentum has stalled somewhat.
In fair value gap terms, IAG is modestly rich. Nowhere near enough to trigger a bearish signal, but it does suggest a degree of good macro news is already in the price.
So, the bottom line from our side is that amid all the headlines about transatlantic demand, margin gains and the like, remember the macro perspective. And simply put, the message is:
- macro matters too
- macro is broadly supportive but beware if inflation rolls over. That might be good for Bank of England rate cut prospects, but it’s not a direct help for IAG
- the stock is slightly rich to macro conditions.
Source: eyeQ. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
Useful terminology:
Model value
Where our smart machine calculates that any stock market index, single stock or exchange-traded fund (ETF) should be priced (the fair value) given the overall macroeconomic environment.
Model (macro) relevance
How confident we are in the model value. The higher the number the better! Above 65% means the macro environment is critical, so any valuation signals carry strong weight. Below 65%, we deem that something other than macro is driving the price.
Fair Value Gap (FVG)
The difference between our model value (fair value) and where the price currently is. A positive Fair Value Gap means the security is above the model value, which we refer to as “rich”. A negative FVG means that it's cheap. The bigger the FVG, the bigger the dislocation and therefore a better entry level for trades.
Long Term model
This model looks at share prices over the last 12 months, captures the company’s relationship with growth, inflation, currency shifts, central bank policy etc and calculates our key results - model value, model relevance, Fair Value Gap.
These third-party research articles are provided by eyeQ (Quant Insight). interactive investor does not make any representation as to the completeness, accuracy or timeliness of the information provided, nor do we accept any liability for any losses, costs, liabilities or expenses that may arise directly or indirectly from your use of, or reliance on, the information (except where we have acted negligently, fraudulently or in wilful default in relation to the production or distribution of the information).
The value of your investments may go down as well as up. You may not get back all the money that you invest.
Equity research is provided for information purposes only. Neither eyeQ (Quant Insight) nor interactive investor have considered your personal circumstances, and the information provided should not be considered a personal recommendation. If you are in any doubt as to the action you should take, please consult an authorised financial adviser.
Disclosure
We use a combination of fundamental and technical analysis in forming our view as to the valuation and prospects of an investment. Where relevant we have set out those particular matters we think are important in the above article, but further detail can be found here.
Please note that our article on this investment should not be considered to be a regular publication.
Details of all recommendations issued by ii during the previous 12-month period can be found here.
ii adheres to a strict code of conduct. Contributors may hold shares or have other interests in companies included in these portfolios, which could create a conflict of interests. Contributors intending to write about any financial instruments in which they have an interest are required to disclose such interest to ii and in the article itself. ii will at all times consider whether such interest impairs the objectivity of the recommendation.
In addition, individuals involved in the production of investment articles are subject to a personal account dealing restriction, which prevents them from placing a transaction in the specified instrument(s) for a period before and for five working days after such publication. This is to avoid personal interests conflicting with the interests of the recipients of those investment articles.