Top Performing Banking Stocks in 2025 as Investors Make Money
The Nigerian stock market is having one of its best performances yet in recent history. For 21 consecutive trading days, the NGX has posted positive performance. In July alone, over N12 trillion in additional market capitalisation was recorded.
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The banking sector has played a significant role in this strong performance, delivering robust returns in 2025.
Over the past year, the banking index, a comprehensive measure of the Nigerian banking sector's performance on the Nigerian Exchange, has yielded a return of 101.16% for investors.
Banking Index reflects the overall health of the Nigerian banking sector and is widely used by investors and analysts as a benchmark for investment performance.
Below is a breakdown of the best performers based on year-to-date (YtD) return (January to August 1, 2025), ranked from highest to lowest.
Wema Bank: +162.64% YtD
Wema Bank is the standout performer in 2025 with a YtD return of +162.64%, the highest among all listed banks.
The bank's stock closed at N23.90 on August 1, 2025, gaining +8.64% in a single day, with a trading volume of 466.28 million shares.
As at the end of trading on Friday, the bank's value stood at N512.181 billion.
Source: Getty Images
Stanbic IBTC: +75.35% YtD
Stanbic IBTC Holding holds its position as the second-best performer with a +75.35% YtD gain. The bank is the only listed financial company shares above N100 after it closed at N101.00 after trading on Friday.
The bank's market value is N1.60 trillion.
Guaranty Trust Holding (GTCO): +74.56% YtD
GTCO comes in third with a +74.56% YtD return for investors. Despite a daily loss of -1.00%, the share price remains high at N99.50 on Friday.
GTCO is the first financial company to have its shares sell above N100 on the NGX.
As of Friday, GTCO's market value is N3.62 trillion.
Zenith Bank: +68.13% YtD
Zenith Bank ranks fourth with a +68.13% YtD return, trading at N76.50. The bank is the second most valuable bank in Nigeria with a market cap of N3.14 billion.
United Bank for Africa (UBA): +44.85% YtD
UBA’s stock has appreciated by +44.85% this year, despite a -0.71% drop on August 1. It closed at N49.25.
UBA's market value is N2.02 billion.
Source: UGC
Ecobank Transnational Inc: +33.75% YtD
Ecobank maintains a +33.75% return YtD, trading at N37.45 with no change on the day.
Ecobank's market value is N687.19 billion.
Jaiz Bank: +29.67% YtD
Jaiz Bank posted a +2.10% gain on August 1, bringing its YtD return to +29.67%. The share closed at N3.89, supported by investor interest in ethical banking.
The non-interest bank's market value is N173.45 billion as at Friday.
Fidelity Bank: +21.14% YtD
Fidelity recorded a modest daily gain of +0.71%, trading at N21.20. Its +21.14% YtD return places it just ahead of FBNH in performance rankings.
Fidelity Bank's market value is N1.06 trillion.
First HoldCo PLC: +19.07% YtD
First HoldCo PLC recorded a solid +3.57% daily gain, closing at N33.40 and a +19.07% YtD return.
The company led by Femi Otedola currently has a market value of N1.39 billion.
Access Holdings: +17.40% YtD
Access Holdings posted a daily gain of +0.36% to close at N28.00 on Friday, August 1.
The financial company ended the day with +17.40% YtD returns for investors.
As of Friday, the Access market value is N1.49 billion.
Sterling Financial: +16.07% YtD
Sterling Financial Holdings Company plc has recorded a +16.07% YtD gain, with its share closing at N6.50.
Market value is at N338.76 billion.
12. FCMB Group: +14.89% YtD
FCMB is at the bottom of the top performers list, with a +14.89% YtD return. However, it surged +8.00% on August 1 to close at N10.80.
The bank's market value on Friday is N427.73 billion.,ofof
Source: Legit.ng
