Author: Gilbert Ayoola

FirstHoldCo Chair Femi Otedola Accumulates Shares, Holding Approaches 30% Femi Otedola crosses 27.5% in First HoldCo as weekly accumulation points toward a possible majority-control ambition The Nigerian equities market is witnessing one of its most consequential shareholder-accumulation stories of 2026 as First HoldCo Plc Chairman, Mr. Femi Otedola, continues to build his economic interest in the financial-services group through related investment vehicles. The latest transaction is significant in both size and strategic implications. Calvados Global Services Limited, a company related to Otedola, acquired 147,737,699 First HoldCo shares at N140 per share, representing an investment of approximately N20.68 billion. The transaction…

Nestoil Debt Recovery: $60m Lifeline for Nigeria’s Banks – Test of Oil Sector Credit Risk The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the financial transactions and indebtedness of Nestoil Limited, with $60 million recovered from the company and transferred to the consortium of Nigerian banks to which it is indebted. Moreover, the recovery followed a meeting convened and chaired by EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, where Nestoil and its lenders agreed to a structured repayment framework. The $60 million represents the first payment under the arrangement, while the company’s total outstanding…

AVA Capital: Investors in Search for Next Catalyst as Momentum Fades The sharp reversal in AVA Capital Plc has rapidly transformed the stock from one of the market’s most aggressive momentum counters into a critical test of investor conviction. After reaching a reported 52-week high of N11.95, the shares entered a succession of declines, falling from N11.00 on August 7 to N7.20 at the close of August 14. Based on the supplied market prices, the decline represents a substantial 34.5% contraction from N11.00 in just one week, while the stock is now approximately 39.7% below its N11.95 peak. More significantly,…

Linkage Assurance Delivers Impressive Half-Year Earnings Amidst Underwriting Pressure Linkage Assurance Plc delivered a materially stronger bottom line in the first half of 2026, but the quality of that earnings growth deserves closer scrutiny. The insurer increased insurance revenue by 6.1% year-on-year to N13.3 billion from N12.5 billion, while profit before tax surged 68.3% to N3.27 billion and profit after tax rose 73.9% to N3.11 billion from N1.79 billion. For investors, the central message is clear: Linkage converted a relatively modest expansion in its insurance franchise into a much larger increase in shareholder earnings, but the earnings acceleration was driven…

ABC Transport Faces Several Margin Contractions Despite Revenue Growth ABC Transport Plc’s half-year 2026 performance presents a mixed investment picture with the company expanding its revenue base and strengthening its balance sheet, but its core transport operations are under mounting cost pressure. For investors, the central question is no longer whether ABC Transport can grow revenue but whether it can convert that growth into sustainable operating profit. Revenue increased 7.0% year-on-year to N8.27 billion, from N7.73 billion. However, direct costs climbed 15.3% to N6.82 billion, more than twice the pace of revenue growth. The resulting compression was severe: gross profit…

The stock market value of MTN Nigeria Plc.’s 20.995 billion outstanding shares fell by about 5% on Tuesday

Eunisell Interlinked Earnings Momentum Meets Stock at Technical Crossroad Eunisell Interlinked has delivered a notably stronger earnings performance, combining double-digit revenue growth with faster profit expansion and a significant strengthening of its balance sheet. The results point to a business gaining operating scale, improving financial efficiency, and investing aggressively in capacity. However, the accompanying increase in working capital requirements warrants closer investor attention. Revenue advanced 30% to N1.84 billion, demonstrating sustained expansion in the company’s underlying business. More importantly, gross profit increased 36% to N653.0 million, outpacing topline growth and lifting gross margin to approximately 35.5%, from an implied lower…

Meyer Clean-up Drives Earnings Growth, Converts Growth to Cash Meyer Plc’s first-half 2026 numbers point to a business moving from clean-up to controlled execution, with revenue, margins, operating earnings, profit, and cash generation all moving in the right direction without any major distortions. Meyer’s H1 2026 performance offers a fairly straightforward investment message: the company is growing, and, more importantly, it appears to be doing so with greater operational discipline. Revenue rose 17.3% year-on-year to N2.37 billion, up from roughly N2.02 billion in the comparable period. The increase is consistent with a business benefiting from stronger sales while maintaining reasonable…

Nascon Grows Profit by 26% to N19.6 Billion in H1-2026 Nascon Allied Industries Plc delivered a solid financial performance in the first half of 2026, demonstrating strong operational efficiency by converting modest revenue growth into significantly higher profitability. Revenue increased by 3.8% year-on-year to N81.2 billion. However, gross profit outpaced sales growth, rising 9.2% to N40.8 billion and lifting the gross profit margin above 50% from approximately 48% in the corresponding period of 2025. The improved margin underscores the company’s ability to retain a larger share of revenue through better cost management and operating efficiency. The stronger margin performance flowed…

Academy Press Earnings Underperform, Revenue Tumbles by 51% Academy Press Plc opened the 2026 financial year with a significantly weaker first-quarter performance, as declining demand and elevated operating costs weighed heavily on earnings. The result fell below the company’s historical earnings profile and reflects the challenging operating environment facing the printing and publishing industry. Revenue declined by 50.7% year-on-year to N771.5 million, compared with N1.57 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. The sharp contraction in turnover translated directly into profitability, with profit after tax plunging 93.0% to N28.6 million from N409.4 million a year earlier, while earnings per share…