First Holdco Delivers 62% YTD Return, Downgrades to Sell
First Holdco Plc has become the best ticker to deliver an impressive year-to-date return on shareholders’ investment following a fast and furious re-rating in the local bourse last week.
This has triggered a sell recommendation from Afrinvest Securities Limited, as investment firm now spotted about 17% downside holding the financial stocks.
Afrinvest Securities Limited advised investors to take profit quickly as equity analysts lowered First Holdco’s target price to N37.40, suggesting that the stock is overvalued at N44.95.
The non-operating holding company of First Bank Limited spiked by about 43% week on week due to its directors dealing. The huge investment in First Holdco lifted its market value to about N1.9 trillion, with year-to-date return standing at 60.2%, according to data from Afrinvest Securities Limited.
GTCO ranked second with a 54.6% year-to-date return, the financial services group that equity analysts promote as having lowest keyman risk compared with its Tier-1 rivals.
Zenith Bank Plc has bolstered shareholders’ value by 39.1% from the beginning of the year to date. Afrinvest placed the stock on a buying recommendation at a target price of N96.36. This represents 52.2% upside potential to its current market price of N63.30.
UBA has delivered 17.6% return to shareholders from the beginning of the year to date. The Pan African lender is placed on buy recommendation by equity analysts at Afrinvest Securities Limited with 57.8% upside potential on price of N63.13.
The financial services group share price opens the week at N40 following a 0.8% week-on-week gain in the Nigerian stock market.
Access Holding Plc has broken investors’ value, with the year-to-date loss standing at double digits, underperforming the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) All Share Index multiple folds. According to Afrinvest Securities Limited, Access Holdings has lost 14% of its opening value in 2025.
In anticipation of re-rating, equity analysts estimated 137.1% upside potential for the Holdings company at a target price of N48.61. Access Plc has never crossed near N40 level. The share hit N28.95, its highest in 52 weeks on Nigerian Exchange. First Holdco Teleports as Directors’ Dealings Fuel 43% Gain
