The Nigerian equities market wrapped up the first quarter of 2026 in the green, rising 29.35% with total trading volume exceeding 52 billion shares, reflecting strong investor participation.
Tracked by the All-Share Index, the market surged 45,674.8 points, climbing from an opening of 155,612.9 to close at 201,287.8, comfortably surpassing the 200,000-point milestone for the first time.
This marked the best quarterly performance since Q1 2024, when the market returned 39.8%, and represented a six-quarter winning streak after a red Q3 2024.
A closer look shows all three months in Q1 2026 ended positively, with February posting the strongest performance at 16.60%, making it the standout month for the quarter.
Although March’s 4.39% return was the lowest in the quarter, it demonstrated resilience, considering trading activity declined to just over 15 billion shares compared to over 21 billion in February.
Here are the top 10 stocks that led the performance table in Q1 2026, with Zichis Agro Allied excluded due to its mid-quarter listing and temporary trading suspension.
The Nigerian Exchange Group was the 10th best-performing stock in Q1 2026, surging 135.71% with over 259 million units traded.
- The stock started the quarter at N70 per share, closed January at N84.50, and then jumped 46.75% in February, breaking N100 for the first time ever.
- By March, bullish momentum continued, pushing the stock to N165 as investors likely remained confident in the group’s growth prospects.
In February, the group released its 2025 audited results, reporting profit before tax of N15.55 billion, up 14.26%, alongside a final dividend of N2 per share.
Revenue growth drove performance, rising 36% to N22.9 billion, with transaction fees contributing 65.8% and listing fees adding 20.7%, while the company now commands a N1.9 trillion market capitalization.
