UBA Gains, Delivers 43.54% Return Ahead of Dividend Payment
Pan African lender United Bank for Africa (UBA Plc), the only Tier-1 bank with profit growth in the first half of 2025, courted investors’ attentions in the stock market. With 43.54% year-to-date, UBA has raised shareholders’ value ahead of 25 kobo interim dividend payment.
In the equities market, UBA closed at N44.90 per share amidst significant trading volume. The Pan African lender’s share price advanced from N44.2 at the beginning of the week to N44.9 on Friday after it hit an intraday high of N45 in spite of reduced interim dividends.
In a disclosure, UBA said an interim dividend of N0.25k for every ordinary share of 50 kobo each subject to applicable withholding tax, will be paid to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members as at the close of business on Friday, October 03, 2025.
On Oct 10, the interim dividend will be paid electronically to shareholders whose names appear on the Register of Members.UBA reported earnings growth of 6.1% year on year to N335.5 billion in its audited first half of 2025 results.
Forex gains slowed down sharply due to the naira stability negatively affecting UBA non-interest revenue in the first half of the year, according to figures reported in its financial scorecard.
UBA non-interest revenue fell by 36.0% year on year to N167.8 billion in H1 2025. This was majorly a result of 397.7% year on year decline in foreign currency revaluation gains.
Additionally, the Group recorded a moderation in FX trading gains and a net fair value loss on derivatives to the tune of N164.4 billion, CardinalStone Securities Limited said in a note.
Based on their separate earnings scorecard, UBA topped tier-1 banks’ earnings recorded with year on year growth.Still, UBA was the only financial services group that grew profit in the first six months of operation versus immediate rivals in the banking industry.
UBA has been able to boost shareholders’ wealth; from the beginning of the year to date, the group has delivered about 44% return on investment.
Apel Asset Limited estimated the Pan African lender’s fair value at N53.74, showing a potential upside of 21.59% at a reference price of N44.20. The investment firm’s target price surpassed the highest value UBA had traded in 52 weeks.
Meanwhile, the weekly price surge suggests UBA has realised part of this upside potential ahead of looming third quarter earnings.
In terms of shareholder value ranking, UBA is in the middle of the rank versus GTCO and Zenith Bank leading while the Pan African market performance surpassed Access Holdings, and First Holdco. Femi Otedola Stake in First Holdco Rises with N1.21bn Shares Purchase
