"NatWest has beat expectations this morning with a 24% rise in pre-tax profit to 7.7bn last year. The results come days after the bank announced a 2.7bn deal to buy Evelyn Partners, one of the biggest wealth managers in the country and NatWest's biggest deal since its government bailout in 2008. Matt Britzman, a senior equity analyst at the investment broker Hargreaves Lansdown, says the results will be reassuring for investors after a rocky week for its share price."
"Result beat expectations across the board, with profits coming in 10% ahead. The standout was lending income, while tighter cost control and lower bad-loan charges gave profits an extra lift. The balance sheet also looks healthier, with capital ticking up (though there was a benefit from the smaller-than-hoped buyback announced earlier in the week). Looking ahead, management's 2026 outlook looks cautious rather than ambitious, but that's typical for NatWest and leaves room for upgrades as we move through the year."
NatWest reported a 24% rise in pre-tax profit to 7.7bn last year and results beat expectations, with profits 10% ahead of forecasts. Lending income was the standout driver, while tighter cost control and lower bad-loan charges further boosted profitability. The balance sheet strengthened with capital ticking up, aided partly by a smaller-than-hoped share buyback. The bank agreed a 2.7bn purchase of Evelyn Partners, prompting questions over the price tag despite a solid strategic rationale. Management set a cautious 2026 outlook that leaves room for upgrades, and buybacks remain possible at reduced levels for now.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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