Barclays's New Strategic Targets in Focus -- Earnings Preview

Dow Jones
Feb 09

By Elena Vardon

 

Barclays is scheduled to report results for the fourth quarter on Tuesday. Here is what you need to know.

 

PRETAX PROFIT: The U.K. bank is expected to post pretax profit for the three months ended Dec. 31 of 1.73 billion pounds ($2.35 billion), according to a company-compiled consensus of 16 analysts. This compares with 1.66 billion pounds in the prior-year period.

 

TOTAL INCOME: The lender's revenue is forecast to reach 6.91 billion pounds according to the same consensus estimates, slightly lower than the 6.96 billion pounds for the same quarter of 2024.

 

Barclays shares rose 25% over the fourth quarter. The stock trades at around 473 pence and is down 0.7% since the start of the year.

 

WHAT TO WATCH:

--STRATEGY: Investors will scrutinize the bank's detailed outlook for 2026 and new three-year targets through 2028. "We do not envisage any shift in broader strategy, especially as this event has been communicated as a 'target update' and not a 'strategy update'," Citi analysts said in a research note.

--U.K. LENDING: Attention will turn to net interest income--the difference between what banks earn on loans and pay out on deposits--in the U.K. given it is a larger contributor to overall revenues and return on tangible equity, as well as the loan volume outlook for U.K. households and corporations, UBS analysts say in a research note.

--U.S. OPERATIONS: The market will assess volume growth in Barclays's card business and guidance for the impact of the American Airlines portfolio exit. It will also look out for updates on the integration of loan origination platform Best Egg and potential headwinds from President Trump's proposed credit card interest cap, UBS adds.

--INVESTMENT BANK: The market will also keep an eye on the investment bank's revenue outlook. "It is hoped that the recent strength of the banks' reporting season in the US reads across to Barclays' US Investment Bank, especially in the trading, M&A and IPO spaces," interactive investor's Richard Hunter wrote in a market comment.

--CAPITAL: In terms of returns, consensus pencils in a dividend of 6.1 pence a share--taking the payout for the year to 9.1 pence--and a 1.01 billion-pound share-buyback program. Its common equity Tier 1 ratio--a key measure of balance-sheet strength--is expected to be 14.0% at the end of the period, at the top end of its target range.

 

Write to Elena Vardon at elena.vardon@wsj.com

 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 09, 2026 09:52 ET (14:52 GMT)

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