Barclays (LON:BARC) Releases Earnings Results

Barclays (LON:BARC) posted its earnings results on Thursday. The financial services provider reported GBX 12.30 earnings per share for the quarter, Digital Look Earnings reports. Barclays had a net margin of 25.61% and a return on equity of 10.11%.

Barclays Trading Down 0.0%

BARC opened at GBX 418.75 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 470.35 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 472.44. The company has a market cap of £55.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.91. Barclays has a 12-month low of GBX 361.35 and a 12-month high of GBX 538.30.

Key Barclays News

Here are the key news stories impacting Barclays this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Barclays reported a 12% year-over-year increase in third-quarter pretax profit to approximately £2.3 billion, broadly matching expectations. Strong equities trading and disciplined costs helped offset weaker fixed-income revenue. The bank also announced a £500 million share buyback, supporting earnings per share and signaling confidence in capital levels. Barclays Q3 profit rises and announces buyback
• Positive Sentiment: The planned reduction of roughly 5,000 jobs, or about 5% of the workforce, is intended to use artificial intelligence to automate back-office work and lower the cost base. If implemented effectively, the move could improve long-term operating efficiency and profitability. Barclays job cuts and AI strategy
• Neutral Sentiment: Barclays published its third-quarter Pillar 3 capital and liquidity metrics, giving investors additional information about its regulatory capital strength and funding position. The article did not identify a material deterioration or major positive surprise. Barclays Q3 capital and liquidity metrics
• Neutral Sentiment: Management said its Middle East expansion plans remain on track, offering a potential avenue for future growth, although the update provided limited near-term financial detail. Barclays Middle East expansion plans
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts at Bank of America maintained a Hold rating and reduced their Barclays price target to 580 pence, citing an earnings miss and softer investment-banking revenue. The cautious outlook limits the bullish impact of the profit growth and buyback. Barclays price target cut
• Negative Sentiment: Reports about Barclays freeing up cash for hedge-fund lending after reaching loan limits, along with a probe into private-credit activities, may heighten concerns about credit concentration, risk controls and regulatory scrutiny. Barclays hedge-fund lending report

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on BARC shares. Citigroup reduced their price target on Barclays from GBX 510 to GBX 500 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, September 23rd. Berenberg Bank reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 620 price objective on shares of Barclays in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a GBX 570 price objective on shares of Barclays in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on Barclays from GBX 590 to GBX 600 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Barclays from GBX 610 to GBX 620 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, September 15th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of GBX 576.67.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Julia Wilson acquired 2,033 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 497 per share, for a total transaction of £10,104.01. Also, insider Anna Cross sold 461,588 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, August 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 521, for a total value of £2,404,873.48. In the last quarter, insiders have purchased 27,498 shares of company stock worth $13,666,506. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Barclays Company Profile

Barclays PLC provides various financial services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International division segments. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. In addition, the company engages in securities dealing activities. The company was formerly known as Barclays Bank Limited and changed its name to Barclays PLC in January 1985.