Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc bucked the Nigerian Exchange’s (NGX) broader market decline on Thursday, with its shares rising 7 percent after investors responded positively to the Group’s N50.3 billion half-year profit.
The stock emerged as the third-best performing equity on the NGX, gaining despite a second consecutive day of losses across the wider market. Sterling Financial traded 36.01 million shares valued at about ₦286.8 million as investors accumulated the stock following the release of its half-year results.
The broader market extended its decline, with the All-Share Index falling 0.7 percent while investors lost more than N1.65 trillion over two trading sessions. Only 17 listed stocks closed in positive territory, underscoring Sterling Financial’s outperformance.
The lender reported profit after tax of N50.30 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2026, reflecting stronger earnings from its core banking operations, improved margins, and continued expansion of its loan portfolio.
Gross earnings increased by 31.5 percent to N279.6 billion from the corresponding period of 2025, driven by growth across both interest and non-interest income.
