Absa Group stock trades at EUR 11.60 after a minus 0.85 percent day

Published on 09/29/2026 at 22:51 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Absa Group's H1 2026 headline earnings rose 8 percent to ZAR 12.8 billion. Its euro quote was EUR 11.60, minus 0.85 percent versus EUR 11.70.

Absa Group, ZAE000255915, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Absa Group stock (ISIN ZAE000255915) was trading at EUR 11.60 at Lang & Schwarz on September 29, 2026 at 10:47 p.m. CEST, minus 0.85 percent versus the prior close of EUR 11.70. The bank's latest half-year figures show headline earnings rising 8 percent to ZAR 12.8 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2026.

Half-year earnings advance

According to Absa Group, revenue increased 4 percent to ZAR 58.8 billion in the first half of 2026. Pre-provision profit also rose 4 percent to ZAR 27.4 billion, while impairments declined 1 percent to ZAR 7.1 billion.

The earnings mix gives the result more depth than the headline number. Personal and Private Banking delivered headline earnings growth of 12 percent to ZAR 4.1 billion, compared with 5 percent growth to ZAR 2.7 billion in Business Banking and 1 percent growth to ZAR 6.2 billion in Corporate and Investment Banking, according to Absa Group.

Capital remains a key checkpoint

Return on equity reached 15 percent, up from 14.8 percent in the comparable period, while the common equity tier one ratio stood at 12.8 percent. That capital ratio was above the board target range of 11.0 percent to 12.5 percent, giving the balance sheet a measurable buffer at the end of June.

Credit performance also improved. The credit-loss ratio fell to 94 basis points from 100 basis points, while the cost-to-income ratio moved to 53.4 percent from 53.2 percent. The figures point to stronger earnings and credit trends, although margin compression continued to limit the benefit of loan and deposit growth.

Analyst view sets a higher bar

MarketScreener lists an Outperform consensus from 10 analysts and an average target price of ZAR 263.26 for Absa Group. The same page shows a target range from ZAR 232.70 to ZAR 298.00, placing the consensus above the latest JSE reference value reported there.

For investors, the central question is whether Absa can convert its 4 percent revenue growth into sustained returns while protecting margins across its African markets. Management's 15 percent return on equity in the first half provides a concrete benchmark for the rest of 2026.

Absa Group stock trades after the Xetra close

Absa Group stock was trading at EUR 11.60 at Lang & Schwarz on September 29, 2026 at 10:47 p.m. CEST, after hours and minus 0.85 percent versus the Lang & Schwarz prior close of EUR 11.70 on September 28, 2026.