NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) is among Citi's top picks, as healthy loan volumes and supportive interest rates underpin European bank earnings despite cooling deposit momentum. Citi maintained its 'overweight' stance on European banks, naming ABN AMRO and SocGen alongside NatWest as its top picks for the sector.
JP Morgan has reiterated its 'overweight' rating on European banks, arguing the sector remains in what it calls a "perfect environment" for growth despite early signs of the interest rate cycle turning. Analyst Kian Abouhossein said the sector benefits from a "sweet spot" of European Central Bank rates between 2% and 3%, alongside lending momentum supported partly by artificial intelligence cap...
Barclays PLC (LSE:BARC), Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LSE:LLOY), NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG), OSB Group PLC (LSE:OSB), and Paragon Banking Group PLC (LSE:PAG) won unanimous 'buy' ratings from Jefferies on Wednesday as the broker upgraded target prices across the pack. At the heart of the revision, the broker bumped Barclays to 600p from 590p, alongside target hikes for Lloyds to 127p from 125p and...
NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) was named a top pick by Citi on Wednesday, even as the investment bank cautioned that the current European banking bull run is nearing its final leg. The shares dipped 0.23% to 688.6p as Citi maintained an 'overweight' rating on the wider sector, observing that recent earnings upgrades have now broadened to other market sectors too.
The lender reported a 29% rise in pretax profit as it completed the acquisition of wealth manager Evelyn Partners.
NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) upgraded its full-year guidance and brought forward plans for further share buybacks after first-half profit climbed on higher income and improved efficiency. Attributable profit rose to £3 billion in the six months to June, while operating profit before tax increased 20.4% to £4.3 billion.
NatWest reported a better than expected first-half operating profit before tax of £4.3 billion ($5.8 billion)on Friday, as stronger revenue generation and resilient credit quality helped offset cost pressures.