The NGX Premium Index ended 2025 higher than the broader Nigerian All-Share Index, rising 59.40% to 15,493.2 points, a gain of 5,773.4 points.
After opening the year at 9,719.8 points, the sub-index pushed past the 15,000 level, supported by trading activity of over 32 billion shares.
Over the same period, the All-Share Index rose 51.19%, or 52,686.6 points, to close at 155,613, leaving the Premium Index ahead on a year-to-date basis.
July drove the third-quarter rally, with the Premium Index gaining 26.74% in the month and lifting Q3 performance to an 18.19% return, the strongest quarter of the year.
The NGX Premium Index tracks Nigerian Exchange companies with strong governance and liquidity, requiring at least N40 billion free float, N200 billion market capitalisation, and a 70% governance score to support investor confidence.
For full-year 2025, gains were broad, with seven of the eight premium stocks ending the year in positive territory.
First HoldCo delivered a strong 70.77% gain in 2025, closing the year at N47.90 from N28.05, just shy of the N50 mark. The stock started the year slowly, rising to N28.15 by March before dipping to N26 by June.
Momentum returned in July, lifting the price 24% to N32.25, though trading remained choppy afterward. December brought the biggest boost, with a 54.27% surge pushing the stock to close at N47.90.
On the financial side, First HoldCo posted a 9M pre-tax profit of N566.5 billion, down 7.26% from N610.86 billion in 2024. Core performance remained solid, however, with net interest income after impairments jumping 72.48% year-on-year to N1.21 trillion, supported by rising interest rates.
The company’s market capitalization stands at N2.04 trillion, representing 2.04% of the total market.
