Picture supply: Getty Photos
Lloyds (LSE:LLOY) shares have soared in worth as confidence throughout the FTSE 100 has picked up. At 51.76p per share, the excessive road financial institution has risen a powerful 22% in simply two months.

The financial institution’s a well-liked inventory with worth buyers. However does Lloyds’ share value nonetheless look low cost at present costs? And may I purchase the banking large for my portfolio?
Earnings
As a place to begin, let’s have a look at how low cost the financial institution’s shares are in comparison with the worth of its predicted earnings. As we speak, its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio sits at 8.1 instances, a long way under the FTSE 100 ahead common of 10.5 instances.
However I’m not carried out but. I’m additionally eager to see how the share value stacks up in comparison with its rivals utilizing this metric. The corresponding readings of the Footsie’s different main banks may be seen under.
Inventory | Ahead P/E ratio |
---|---|
Barclays | 5.8 instances |
NatWest Group | 6.9 instances |
HSBC Holdings | 6.3 instances |
Normal Chartered | 5.8 instances |
We discover that the Black Horse Financial institution trades at a premium to its opponents primarily based on anticipated income (Barclays and Normal Chartered each lead the desk on this respect).
Property
Subsequent, I’ll think about how Lloyds is valued relative to its ebook worth (whole property minus liabilities). With a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 0.82, the corporate’s buying and selling under the worth watermark of 1. In different phrases, it’s buying and selling at a reduction to the worth of its property.
However Lloyds isn’t alone on this respect. Certainly, sub-1 multiples are frequent amongst UK-listed banks, because the chart under exhibits.

We additionally discover that Lloyds’ P/B ratio is increased than these of most of its rivals. Solely HSBC has a better studying. So whereas low, the financial institution’s a number of isn’t business beating.
Dividends
The very last thing to think about is Lloyds’ dividend yield, which signifies the potential earnings that buyers may earn for every share. This yr, this sits at 6.1%, far forward of the three.7% common for FTSE 100 shares.
The financial institution’s yield additionally beats these of Barclays, Normal Chartered and NatWest. Solely HSBC surpasses it with its near-10% dividend yield.
Inventory | Ahead dividend yield |
---|---|
Barclays | 4.2% |
NatWest Group | 6% |
HSBC Holdings | 9.7% |
Normal Chartered | 3.5% |
Ought to I purchase?
Other than that dividend yield, Lloyds’ share value doesn’t appear to supply eye-catching worth in contrast with its friends. However then once more, the financial institution does look low cost in contrast with the broader FTSE. So what ought to I do subsequent?
It’s my view that the shares should commerce at a reduction to the Footsie. Its excessive publicity to the moribund UK economic system offers little scope for stable earnings development. It might additionally battle to develop the underside line as rates of interest are doubtless fall from the center of 2024, pulling on its web curiosity margin (NIM).
Indicators of restoration within the housing market are a very good signal for the financial institution. It’s the nation’s largest house mortgage supplier with a market share close to 20%.
However I believe the dangers of proudly owning the corporate outweigh any potential advantages. In reality, if I had money to spend I’d somewhat make investments it in rival HSBC’s shares. Whereas this banking large additionally has giant publicity to the UK economic system, I believe it may ship spectacular long-term returns as its core Asian markets develop quickly.