The first half of the year on the Nigerian Stock Exchange is usually dominated by the release of full-year results by companies. Though impending elections may cause a delay (or an early release in some cases), here are stocks investors should have on their radar in the first and second quarters of the year.
Access Bank/Diamond Bank Plc
The two lenders have a joint top spot by virtue of their ongoing merger process. Recent briefings by the banks indicate that court ordered shareholder meetings will take place some time in February.
Access Bank’s share price had slid since news of the merger was announced, before finding a support level around the N5.80 mark. Share price of both stocks would be worth watching till the merger is consummated.
In the event of a sharp drop in Access share price to the N4 mark (a faint but possible reality depending on market sentiments), the terms and conditions of the merger would have to be revised.
Zenith Bank Plc
Zenith Bank takes second place by virtue of being the bank with the highest profit after tax earning as at the third quarter ended September 30, 2018. The bank is among Nigeria’s tier one banks (collectively known as FUGAZ) that typically kick off the earnings season.
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc
As is typical, Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith are in a tight race in terms of leadership of the FUGAZ pack. Full year results would be the deciding factor if GTBank takes the lead pertaining to profit this year.
UBA
UBA has a spot on this list by virtue of being one of the FUGAZ banks. The bank has also consistently released its full-year results in the month of March.
FBN Holdings
FBN is one of the largest of the FUGAZ banks, and has consistently released its full year results in April. FUGAZ results are often considered side by side and follow similar patterns in terms of profit drivers and impairments.
FBN has cleaned its books in the last few years, and 2018 should be the last year of heavy impairments.
Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc
Seplat has a space on our watchlist for two reasons:
First, the firm would most likely be one of those that will file their results on time, having indicated that a board meeting would be held to consider them on the 28th of February, 2019.
The company also takes a prominent place due to the forecast by many analysts of a resumption of militant attacks this year. The company’s operations were badly crippled in 2016/2017 and if this were to repeat itself, management and shareholders would be in a tight spot.
Forte Oil Plc
Forte Oil has a spot on our watchlist by virtue of majority shareholder Femi Otedola’s intentions to divest his entire shareholding. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019.
It is yet unknown if Prudent energy the incoming owner, will keep the firm on the exchange or delist.
Dangote Cement
A H1 equity watchlist would be incomplete without considering Dangote Cement, which amounts to roughly a quarter of the NSE’s total market capitalization.
While FY 2018 results may come in flat, the company may decide to increase its dividend output and is a clear market driver.
Cement Company of Northern Nigeria
Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (also known as Sokoto Cement) was the best performing stock last year, hence a place on the H1 2019 watchlist. The rally in price has been largely due to the improved performance.
H1 2019 results would be the first after its merger with Kalambaina cement and would indicate if it can maintain the growth witnessed last year.
Resort Savings and Loans
Resort Savings and Loans has a spot in our H1 watchlist by virtue of the removal of a technical suspension placed on it a few weeks ago.
The company is in talks with private equity firm, Milost Global, and the suspension had prevented the injection of capital by the firm. Milost has not had much luck with listed firms on the NSE. Talks with Unity Bank Plc, Japaul Oil, and Maritime Plc ended abruptly, in a somewhat controversial manner.
Total Nigeria Plc
Total has a spot on our watchlist by virtue of a stellar 2018 result, which Nairametrics believes will culminate in a bumper full-year dividend.
The company has also a tradition of releasing its full-year results on time. FY 2017 results were released sometime in February, FY 2016 in March and FY 2015 in April.
Nigerian Breweries Plc
Nigerian Breweries is on our H1 watchlist for two reasons. The company has a tradition of releasing its results on time. FY 2015, 2016 and 2017 results were all released in the month of February.
Asides that, the company is very likely to turn in poor full-year results. Q4 2018 ( which is typically embedded within its full-year results) will be a key factor in deciding if the stock would be worth holding this year.
Guinness Nigeria
The breweries sector has become a fiercely competitive space in the last few years, with the scaling up of International Breweries.
The festive period (October to December) is typically the best performing month for brewers, and so Guinness ‘s second-quarter results are one to watch out for, to evaluate how well it has held up to its competitors.
International Breweries
International Breweries has slowly and steadily carved into the market share of the bigger brewers. 2018 full year and Q1 2019 results would be a pointer as to the sustainability of this.
Stanbic IBTC
Stanbic is pushing the tier two borders, and to some extent, should be in a class of its own. The bank’s 9M 2018 results show a marked improvement from the prior year.
While Stanbic typically pays a minute final dividend, (in addition to the bank indicating its intentions to conserve capital), it could decide to increase it.
Ecobank Trans International
ETI alongside Stanbic ideally would be categorised as a mid-tier bank. The pan African bank has cleaned its books in the last few years, and this has reflected in its bottom-line. Ecobank made the third highest profit as at Q3 2018 with a profit after tax of N75 billion.
The bank has not paid dividends in the last few years due to the magnitude of provisions, but 2018 results could buck the trend.
Fidelity Bank
Fidelity Bank has emerged a leader in the tier two space, alongside Stanbic IBTC (alongside FCMB and Stanbic IBTC). Dividend payments have however not matched the consistent increase in both top and bottom line. The full-year 2018 results will be a key determinant if this will continue or change.
Sterling Bank
While Sterling bank was in the news last year, due to its bank wars’, the lender turned in decent results with an improvement in both top and bottom line. The stock was also one of the best performing on the NSE, last year.
2018 would be the first full year result of the current Managing Director, Suleiman Abubakar. H1 2019 results would indicate if the bank will either continue on the growth trajectory last year or coast.
NAHCO and SAHCO
NAHCO and SAHCO occupy the joint last spot on this list, despite operating in a somewhat overlooked sector on the NSE. The two firms operate as a duopoly, and SAHCO’s listing would provide an opportunity to compare results alongside.
NAHCO has had a turbulent ride in the last few years, and the new management and majority ownership should play a stabilizing factor.
