On Tuesday, Jefferies, a global financial services firm, increased its price target for Barclays (BARC:LN) (NYSE: BCS) shares from GBP3.30 to GBP3.35, while reaffirming its Buy rating on the stock.
The adjustment reflects a positive outlook on the bank's UK business portfolio, which is expected to contribute significantly to the group's risk-weighted assets (RWAs).
The analyst at Jefferies examined Barclays' UK portfolio and noted that it is anticipated to add GBP30 billion of RWAs to the group. These units have delivered a robust 20% return on tangible equity (ROTE) over the past two years.
Despite projecting a lower volume growth that results in an estimated GBP19 billion RWA increase, Jefferies anticipates the difference to be captured in their higher capital return forecasts.
They expect Barclays to return approximately GBP11.1 billion to shareholders through 2026, which is slightly above the company's own guidance of "greater than GBP10 billion."
Barclays' shares are currently trading at 0.6 times the estimated 2024 tangible book value (TBV), according to Jefferies' projections.
Looking ahead, the financial services firm estimates Barclays' return on tangible equity to be around 12% by 2026. This assessment suggests a confidence in the bank's ability to generate value for its shareholders in the coming years.
The revised price target by Jefferies indicates a slight increase in their valuation of Barclays' stock, which may be of interest to investors monitoring the financial sector. Barclays has not provided any public comment on the new price target at this time.
InvestingPro Insights
Recent data from InvestingPro provides a deeper financial perspective on Barclays (NYSE: BCS). With an adjusted market capitalization of $40.85 billion and a trailing twelve months P/E ratio as of Q1 2024 at 6.93, Barclays appears undervalued when compared to the industry average. The bank's price to book ratio stands at a modest 0.45, suggesting that the stock is trading below its book value, which could indicate a potential buying opportunity.
Barclays has shown a dividend yield of 4.74% as of the 142nd day of 2024, with a notable dividend growth of 8.87% during the last twelve months as of Q1 2024. This reflects the bank's commitment to returning value to shareholders, aligning with Jefferies' expectations of a generous capital return. Additionally, Barclays' one-year price total return as of the same date stands at an impressive 44.73%, highlighting the positive momentum in the stock's performance.
InvestingPro Tips suggest that investors should consider the bank's robust operating income margin of 30.81% and the recent upward trend in its stock price, which is at 98.88% of its 52-week high. For those looking to delve further into the financial health and future prospects of Barclays, InvestingPro offers additional insights. With a total of 7 more InvestingPro Tips available, interested investors can use the coupon code PRONEWS24 to get an additional 10% off a yearly or biyearly Pro and Pro+ subscription.
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