MTN Nigeria Leads Top 8 Best-Performing Stocks Year-To-Date 

MTN Nigeria Leads Top 8 Best-Performing Stocks Year-To-Date 

The NGX Premium Index has recorded a remarkable 53.86% year-to-date (YTD) return as of the week ended October 17, 2025, outperforming other key Nigerian stock market benchmarks. The impressive growth reflects the solid gains among large-cap stocks that dominate the index.

In comparison, the All-Share Index (ASI) rose 44.74%, while the NGX 30 Index increased 42.69%, showing that the Premium Index continues to lead in performance and investor appeal.

What the NGX Premium Index Represents

The NGX Premium Index tracks elite companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) that meet rigorous standards of corporate governance, market liquidity, and transparency.

To qualify for inclusion, companies must meet specific requirements, including:

• A minimum free float of ₦40 billion worth of shares.
• A minimum market capitalization of ₦200 billion.
• A Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS) score of at least 70%.

These stringent criteria ensure that only the most financially sound and transparent companies are represented, providing investors with a high-quality portfolio of blue-chip stocks.

Historical Performance: A Consistent Market Winner

Since 2020, the NGX Premium Index has consistently ended each year in positive territory. The 53.86% gain in 2025 keeps it on track for another strong year, although still below its record 2020 performance of 64.01%.

This steady uptrend reinforces the Premium Index as one of the most reliable indicators of Nigeria’s stock market health, reflecting investor confidence in companies with strong fundamentals and governance.

2025 Year-to-Date Stock Performance Review

This report provides a detailed look at the individual stocks that make up the Premium Board and their year-to-date performance in 2025. These include leading companies in the banking, cement, telecoms, and consumer goods sectors — all of which play pivotal roles in driving the index’s overall growth.

The NGX Premium Index continues to attract both institutional and retail investors seeking stability, transparency, and superior returns in an evolving Nigerian market landscape.

Key Insights for Investors

• YTD Return (as of Oct 17, 2025): +53.86%
• Comparative Returns:
  • All-Share Index (ASI): +44.74%
  • NGX 30 Index: +42.69%
• Top Performing Sector: Industrial and telecoms heavyweights remain key growth drivers.
• Outlook: The Premium Index remains on track for a fourth consecutive year of positive performance, backed by strong Q3 corporate earnings.

8. Seplat Energy (3.81%)

Seplat Energy Plc ranks eighth on the list and is the only oil and gas company in the Premium index, with a modest year-to-date gain of 3.81%.

Although the performance appears modest, it shows resilience, given that the stock has recorded only two strong positive months and mostly flat trading so far in 2025.

The stock opened at N5,700 in January and slipped by 12.91% to N4,964.4 in May, before rebounding at 9.78% in June, a clear turning point in its performance.

Despite largely quiet trading in the following three months, October has shown renewed strength, up about 10% to N5,917.2, as sentiment improves in the oil and gas sector.

Seplat’s unaudited Q2 2025 results for the period ended June 30, 2025, show a pre-tax profit of N139.4 billion, down slightly by 0.76% from N140.5 billion in Q2 2024.

Combined with Q1, first-half pre-tax profit surged 86% year-on-year to N454.1 billion, supported by strong revenue growth.

7. Access Holdings (7.55%)

Access Holdings Plc follows with a 7.55% year-to-date gain. The stock opened in 2025 at N23.85, gained in January, but fell 12.7% by March, its weakest month of the year.

The first quarter closed 6.29% lower at N22.35, but sentiment improved in Q2, with all months recording gains.

July brought a strong rebound, with the stock climbing 26.24% to N27.90, before easing to N25.65 in September as investors awaited the company’s delayed half-year results.

Access Holdings postponed the release of its audited half-year results from September 29 to October 22, 2025, to allow time for CBN approval.

However, in Q1 2025, the group posted a pre-tax profit of N222.78 billion, up 9.89% year-on-year, driven by strong interest income, which rose 58.28% to N980.68 billion.

• Loans and advances accounted for 63.29% of this income, while investment securities contributed 34.14%.

6. First HoldCo (11.94%)

First HoldCo Plc ranks sixth with an 11.94% gain so far in 2025. The stock opened the year at N28.05 and closed January at N29.95 after over 520 million shares changed hands.

Performance in the first quarter was largely flat at 0.36%, followed by a dip to N24.85 in April.

Stability returned in May, and by June, the price edged up to N26. A strong 24% rally in July pushed it above N30, ending the month at N32.25.

August saw a mild 0.78% increase, but subsequent declines through September and mid-October pulled it back to N31.40 as of October 17, 2025.

In its Q2 2025 results, the group reported a pre-tax profit of N169.6 billion, down 4.58% year-on-year, bringing its half-year total to N356.1 billion.

• Interest income remained the main driver, rising 61.92% to N812.1 billion in Q2 and reaching N1.4 trillion for the first half of the year.

5. UBA (23.62%)

United Bank for Africa Plc has gained 23.62% so far in 2025. The stock opened the year at N34.00 and advanced more than 10% in January to close at N37.65.

It added 8.53% in the first quarter, supported by heavy trading volumes exceeding one billion shares, before easing to N35.35 in the second quarter, largely on account of April’s pullback.

Momentum returned in July as the stock rallied over 40% to a new all-time high of N49.60, before moderating to N42.00 by mid-October.

For the half-year ended June 30, 2025, UBA reported a pre-tax profit of N388.4 billion, slightly lower than N401.5 billion in the same period last year.

Top-line performance remained solid, driven by a 32.89% rise in interest income to N1.3 trillion.

4. Dangote Cement (25.31%)

Dangote Cement Plc has advanced 25.31% year-to-date, marking a strong run for the company on the Exchange.

It opened in 2025 at N478.8 but stumbled early, shedding 17.71% in January to close at N394.

The setback proved short-lived as February sparked a sharp rebound of 21.83%, allowing the stock to end the first quarter slightly in positive territory.

Momentum faded in the second quarter with an 8.33% dip to N440, but sentiment turned bullish again in July, lifting the price by 20% to N528.

The recovery has since gathered pace, and by mid-October, the stock had risen 14.26% to N600.

• For the half-year period ended June 2025, Dangote Cement posted a pre-tax profit of N730 billion, up 149% from a year earlier and nearly matching its full-year 2024 figure.

Revenue climbed 18% to N2 trillion, supported by stronger cost management and reduced finance expenses.

3. Zenith Bank (49.89%)

Zenith Bank Plc has recorded a 49.89% gain so far in 2025.

It began the year at N45.50, pushing past the N50 mark in January before retreating slightly to N47.00 in March.

The second quarter marked a clear shift in momentum, as renewed buying interest lifted the stock to N56.95 by June. July brought even stronger sentiment, driving a 34% jump to N76.50.

Although the rally cooled in August and September, Zenith has stayed firmly in positive territory, trading around N68.20 by mid-October.

For the half year ended June 2025, the group reported a pre-tax profit of N625.6 billion and a post-tax profit of N532.18 billion.

Gross earnings climbed 19.96% to N2.52 trillion, reflecting stronger revenue generation.

2. Lafarge Africa (93.71%)

Lafarge Africa Plc has surged 93.71% so far in 2025, making it one of the year’s standout performers.

The stock opened in 2025 at N69.95 and inched up to N73.80 by the end of the first quarter. Momentum gathered pace in the second quarter with an 18% rise to N87.20, before a powerful July rally sent it soaring 70% to N149.00.

The momentum cooled slightly in August and September as the price eased to N125.10, though October has seen a mild recovery with an additional 8.31% gain at N135.5.

In its half-year 2025 report, Lafarge Africa posted total assets of N1.02 trillion, including N422.2 billion in property, plant, and equipment.

Revenue came in at N516.9 billion, while pre-tax profit surged to N199.7 billion, more than four times the N46.6 billion recorded in the same period last year.

1. MTN Nigeria (137.20%)

MTN Nigeria tops the list with a 137.20% year-to-date gain, making it the best-performing Premium stock so far in 2025.

The stock opened the year at N200 and ended Q1 at N245, up 22.50%. A stronger Q2 followed, with prices peaking at N357, driven largely by June’s rally.

July is its strongest month so far, with the stock rising 32.03% to N472. Despite mild declines in August and September, a 12% rebound in October has lifted it to N474.40 as of October 17, 2025.

MTN Nigeria reported a pre-tax profit of N419.61 billion in Q2 2025, a sharp turnaround from a N179.60 billion loss in the same period last year.

Combined with Q1, H1 2025 pre-tax profit rose to N622.24 billion, while revenue grew 69% year-on-year to N1.3 trillion in Q2 and 54.5% to N2.4 trillion in H1.

Data services accounted for more than half of total revenue in both periods.

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