FCMB Group proposes 35 kobo final dividend payout

In a move to reward its shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2025, FCMB Group Plc has proposed final dividend of 35 kobo per ordinary share for the financial year.

FCMB Group Plc has released its audited group results for the full-year ended December 31, 2025 and its unaudited group results for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31, 2026.

The final dividend announcement on Monday June 8, which is subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), underscores the financial institution’s resilience and focus on delivering sustained value amid a dynamic macroeconomic environment.

The dividend will be paid to shareholders whose names appear in the Register of Members as at the close of business on Monday, June 15. The register of shareholders will be closed on Tuesday, June 16.

On Tuesday, June 30, dividends will be paid electronically to shareholders whose names appear on the Register of Members as at the close of business on Monday, June 15, and who have completed the e-dividend registration and mandated the Registrar to pay their dividends directly into their bank account.

The proposed dividend per share of 35 kobo represents a 36 percent reduction from 2025 as a result of the increased number of shares following the 2025 public offer and non-payment of 2025 interim dividend from the banking subsidiary to the holding company.

At N12 per share the stock exchanges by 2.30pm on Monday, June 8, it nears its 52-week high of N14.5 as against a corresponding week low of N8.55.

FCMB Group gross revenue grew by 42.5 percent to N1.13 trillion for FY 2025 (FY 2024: N794.4 billion), largely driven by a 61.7 percent growth in interest income and a 17.3 percent growth in earning assets from N4.18 trillion to N4.90 trillion. The same revenue drivers underpinned a strong start to 2026, with gross revenue growing by 26.7 percent Year-on-Year (YoY) to N320.2 billion in Q1’2026 (Q1’ 2025: N252.7 billion).

Net Interest Income grew by 124.5 percent to N505.9 billion (FY 2024: N225.3 billion), driven by a growth in Net Interest Margin to 9.5 percent for FY 2025 from 6.3 percent as at FY 2024. This momentum extended into Q1’2026, as Net Interest Margin grew further to 10.7 percent. Continued investment in people, technology, and business expansion supported scale and long-term growth. This was reflected in improved efficiency, as Cost-to-Income Ratio (CIR) declined to 53.8 percent from 59.9 percent in FY 2024.

Cost-to-income ratio improved further in Q1’ 2026 to 46.7 percent. Net impairment losses on financial instruments increased to N81.7 billion (FY 2024: N41.2 billion), as the group’s Nigerian banking subsidiary exited the CBN loan forbearance, which resulted in a growth in cost of risk to 3.6 percent from 1.8 percent recorded for FY 2024.

Cost of risk eased to 2.2 percent in Q1’2026. Profit Before Tax grew by 81 percent to N202.1 billion in FY 2025, while Profit After Tax increased by 142 percent to N177.3 billion. Return on Equity improved to 23.2 percent, while Return on Assets rose to 2.4 percent. The strong earnings momentum continued into Q1’ 2026, with Profit Before Tax and Profit After Tax increasing by 148 percent and 137 percent Year-on-Year to N87 billion and N76.5 billion, respectively.

Annualised Return on Equity and Return on Assets improved to 31 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively. Earnings Per Share grew by 66.7 percent to N3.96 in FY 2025 (FY 2024: N2.38) and annualiaed EPS run-rate increased to N4.63 in Q1’2026, reflecting strong earnings growth despite a higher total number of shares in issue post recapitalisation.