Zenith Bank solidifies position as most capitalized Nigerian bank

Zenith Bank solidified its position as the most capitalized financial institution listed on the Nigerian equities market, having gained N32.97 billion in the month of February 2022 to close the month at N850.85 billion.

The Nigerian stock market enjoyed a bullish session in the review month as the all-share index, which is the benchmark metric in determining the performance of the market, increased by 2.6% to close the month at 47,395 index points.

The banking sector also followed in the same direction as the NGX Banking Index appreciated by 3.2% month-on-month to close at 453.53 points as of 28th February 2022. Also, the aggregate market capitalization of all the banks under consideration grew by N46.61 billion to stand at N3.84 trillion.

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Meanwhile, Zenith Bank recorded the highest gain in the period under review, further widening the gap between the first and the second on the list. Specifically, the gap between Zenith Bank and GT Bank widened from N26.18 billion recorded in January 2022 to N56.15 billion as of the end of February.

The list maintained the same arrangement as the previous month, with Zenith Bank standing on top of the list with a valuation of N850.85 billion, representing 22.2% of the total banking market capitalization.

GT Bank remained unchanged with a valuation of N791.69 billion, accounting for 20.6% of the total industry valuation. Stanbic IBTC and First Bank maintained third and fourth position with valuations of N453.49 billion and N412.8 billion respectively.

Also, Access Bank is valued at N367.89 billion at the Nigerian equities market to stand firth on the list, while UBA followed with a valuation of N295.83 billion as of the end of February 2022.

Others on the list include Ecobank Transnational (N219.28 billion), Union Bank (N183.46 billion), Fidelity Bank (N86.92 billion), FCMB (N61.39 billion), Sterling Bank (N47.22 billion), and Wema Bank (N37.03 billion).

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The biggest upward mover in the review month in terms of percentage change is Wema Bank, after recording a 9.1% appreciation in its market capitalization to close the month at N37.03 billion compared to N33.95 billion recorded as of the end of the previous month.

On the flip side, Sterling Bank recorded the highest decline with 5.2% reduction in its market capitalization to close at N47.22 billion in contrast to the N49.81 billion recorded in the previous month.

Meanwhile, Zenith Bank recorded the highest increase in terms of monetary value with a N32.97 billion improvement in its market valuation from N817.88 billion to N850.85 billion. Ecobank recorded the highest monetary decline, dropping by N10.09 billion to close at N219.28 billion.

Zenith Bank recorded a 6.07% increase in its bottom line in 2021, posting a profit after tax of N244.5 billion compared to the N230.57 billion recorded in the previous year. The tier-1 bank also announced a final dividend payment of N2.8 per 50 kobo ordinary share to its shareholders for the 2021 financial year.