Lloyd's He was one of FTSE 100 indexBest-Performing Stocks of 2025. Thanks to several supporting factors – including the recent positive outcome of the auto finance investigation – they are up 54% since January 1.

However, despite its strong performance, the bank's gains appear modest alongside those of some other major UK stocks. Here are two that I think may continue to outperform the Lloyd's share price and are worth serious consideration.

Copper stock

Runaway copper prices have pushed mining stocks sharply higher this year. Antofagasta For example, the value of (LSE:ANTO) jumped 72%, driven by the red metal's rise to its highest levels in 16 months.

There are risks to the current high copper prices, and therefore to producers of the leading commodity. They are significantly cyclical, and therefore vulnerable to threats such as trade tariffs and rising interest rates.

But increasing supply issues suggest that copper values ​​could continue to rise. Legendary metals trader Kenny Ives believes it could reach $12,000 per ton by the end of 2025. It recently reached around $10,600.

Looking ahead, copper faces a growing shortage that could lead to higher prices. Wood Mackenzie analysts believe the shift to green energy and the AI ​​boom will push copper demand up 24% between now and 2035.

As a major producer with significant resources for expansion, Antofagasta is well placed to benefit from such an environment. It has four operating mines in Chile and about six exploration projects.

City analysts expect the FTSE 100 miner to deliver strong, sustained earnings growth for at least the next few years. They expect this to be followed by 64% growth in 2025 with a rise of 11% next year and 21% in 2027.

Defense stocks

Rising defense spending since 2022 has pushed up arms stockpiles sharply as well. Babcock International (LSE:BAB) was initially overlooked by investors, but has outperformed the biggest monsters on the UK stock market in 2025 due to its excellent value.

At £11.92 per share, shares in the FTSE 250 company have risen 137% since 1 January. However, it still looks cheap in my view, which could open the door to further gains. Its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 22.1 times.

This is far less than the 38.8 times that the broader European defense sector currently requires.

Defense stocks are entering a new era of growth as NATO and partner members rapidly rearm after decades of underinvestment. For Babcock, City analysts expect an 8% increase in annual profits this financial year (until March 2026).

Further healthy increases of 12% and 11% are expected for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, respectively.

I'm not surprised by the city's bullish estimates. Babcock effectively leverages its expertise across multiple product segments and strong government relationships to seize this opportunity and grow revenues.

The FTSE's order book rose to a strong level of £10.4bn as of March. It is targeting mid-single-digit organic sales growth over the medium term and an underlying operating margin of “at least“9%.

Babcock receives approximately 70% of its revenues from Britain. This leaves it vulnerable to potential government spending cuts as the UK struggles to balance its books.

But in the current macroeconomic climate, I am confident that demand for its services will continue to rise at home and abroad.