Wema Bank Slides as EPS Moderated by 20% in H1-2026

Wema Bank Slides as EPS Moderated by 20% in H1-2026

Wema Bank Plc, a tier-2 Nigerian lender, shed 2.21% of its stock market value amid sell pressure following the first-half 2026 earnings release.

This followed investors’ reaction to the bank’s half-year earnings release – with robust top- and bottom-line performance except for moderated earnings per share (EPS).

Earnings and investors’ sentiment disconnected, which triggered profit-taking activities in Wema Bank shares. Stock market analysts said there is a strong probability of a rebound as investors weigh their positions.

Details from the Nigerian Exchange showed the bank’s share price declined to N30.95 as 6.426 million units of Wema Bank shares valued at N195.204 million were traded.

This brought the market value of Wema Bank’s 40.118 billion outstanding shares in the local bourse down to N1.241 trillion – more than 14% below its 52-week high.

Investors’ reaction was negative despite a surge in the bank’s profitability. Wema Bank announced its profit rose to N131.373 billion in the first half of 2026, up by 50.11% year on year from N87.513 billion reported in the equivalent period.

The bottom line was strengthened by a sharp year-on-year increase in topline performance. The bank reported that net interest income surged by about 51.3% year-on-year to N195.448 billion from N129.217 billion in the equivalent period in 2025.

EPS slump was a result of increased paid-up share capital following the bank’s capital raise toward recapitalisation. Wema Bank’s weighted average shares rose to 40.118 billion from 27.280 billion in the comparable period in 2025. Aradel, Wema Bank Drop, Investors Lose N959bn as NGX Index Tanks