LIVE MARKETS-Health trends, weight-loss drugs to fuel protein market boom, Barclays says

US equity indexes mixed, Dow up 0.2% Energy leads S&P 500 sector gains, comm svcs weakest Euro STOXX 600 index up ~0.2% Dollar edges up; gold gains; crude rallies >1%; bitcoin slips US 10-year Treasury yield dips to ~4.14% Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of markets brought to you by Reuters reporters. You can share your thoughts with us at HEALTH TRENDS, WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS TO FUEL PROTEIN MARKET BOOM, BARCLAYS SAYS In an era where consumers are increasingly mindful of what they eat, protein has emerged as the undisputed champion of the food industry - one Barclays expects will keep ‘protein winners’ positioned for growth in 2026. Barclays analysts estimate global protein demand could rise by 37%, adding roughly $650 billion in incremental value to a market they currently peg at about $1.7 trillion globally. They attribute the boom to two key trends: the mainstream adoption of health and wellness priorities and the rising use of GLP-1 weight management medications, which can increase protein consumption as people aim to preserve muscle mass. Barclays’ analysis suggests the companies it identifies as ‘Protein Winners’ have consistently outperformed peers, achieving both 2.1% higher volume growth on average over the past four quarters and superior share price performance. In Europe, top picks include Mowi (MOWI.OL) and Glanbia (GL9.I) , that supply salmon and dairy ingredients, and Novonesis (NSISb.CO) and Danone (DANO.PA) , that provide protein platforms and yogurts products. In the U.S., Tyson Foods (TSN.N) , JBS NV (JBS.N) (JBS.N) and Hormel Foods (HRL.N) are standout global operators with broad meat and prepared foods portfolios. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp (PPC.O) (PPC.O) , Smithfield Foods (SFD.O) and BellRing Brands (BRBR.N) (BRBR.N) are also positioned to benefit from protein-focused growth across multiple categories including dairy, seafood, and ready-to-drink products. To capitalize on this booming market, major manufacturers such as Nestlé (NESN.S) and Coca-Cola (KO.N) are investing billions in expanded production capacity. Barclays also notes that protein-rich snacks are growing 1.3 times faster than the overall snacks market, and that North America alone accounted for an estimated 35% of global protein ingredient sales. Meanwhile, Barclay’s pharma team believes that pricing erosion and U.S. policy reform are pushing GLP-1s toward a mass-market, which could further lift the protein market. Overall, the firm argues the protein trend is still under-appreciated by markets and even if growth rates normalize quarter to quarter, the longer-term shift towards protein as a functional part of mainstream diets could create attractive investment opportunities. (Ragini Mathur) EARLIER ON LIVE MARKETS: S&P 500 HAS ANOTHER FLIRTATION WITH ITS 50-DMA CLICK HERE AI FRENZY FACES ‘AIR POCKET’ RISKS: WHERE TO GET SHELTER CLICK HERE EU’S CHRISTMAS GIFT TO THE AUTO SECTOR DISAPPOINTS CLICK HERE OIL ‘WIDOW MAKER’ GETS A NUDGE FROM VENEZUELA CLICK HERE EUROPEAN SHARES INCH UP, FTSE LEADS THE WAY CLICK HERE EUROPE BEFORE THE BELL: FUTURES TICK HIGHER CLICK HERE UK INFLATION FINAL HURDLE BEFORE BOE VERDICT CLICK HERE