NatWest

NWG

Market cap $68.2B

NatWest (NWG) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting growing optimism about the company's earnings prospects. This might drive the stock higher in the near term.

HSBC Holdings PLC (LSE:HSBA) and NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) were among top picks as Citi said the European banking rally has "further to run" going into 2026, with attractive valuations, improving income trends, and strong capital return yields.  Analysts said they see further upside to consensus earnings forecasts as net interest income (NII) recovers and non-NII growth continues.

NatWest Group is in exclusive talks to sell its 85% stake in workplace pension provider Cushon to U.S. insurance broker Willis Towers Watson just two years after the British bank acquired the business, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

UK bank stocks popped by over 3% on Tuesday as investors waited for the upcoming Rachel Reeves budget reading and as traders anticipated more returns.  Lloyds share price jumped by 3.78% to 90.69p, up from this week's low of 85.86.

NatWest Group plc ( NWG ) JPMorgan UK Leaders Conference November 19, 2025 6:15 AM EST Company Participants Katie Murray - Group CFO & Executive Director Conference Call Participants Sheel Shah - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Presentation Sheel Shah JPMorgan Chase & Co, Research Division Thank you. Thank you very much for your time, everyone.

Shares in the big three domestic lenders, Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LSE:LLOY), NatWest Group PLC (LSE:NWG) and Barclays PLC (LSE:BARC), helped lift the FTSE 100 on Tuesday after reports that the sector would escape extra taxes in tomorrow's Budget.  Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing to spare banks from the tax raid that had been expected, the Financial Times reported.

JPMorgan's senior analyst Kian Abouhossein has outlined his preferred European bank stocks as investors look ahead to 2026. Despite macroeconomic uncertainty and uneven M&A activity across the sector, Abouhossein believes select names offer compelling value and strong returns.

Fears over the UK budget have hung over the banking sector for months, but Deutsche Bank argues that the worry is starting to look overdone. The note's central point is that, whatever the chancellor announces, markets are likely to move on quickly to the next catalyst: the Bank of England's forthcoming capital review.

A U.K. bank stock sits atop IBD's Global Leaders list along with a China hotel operator currently trading around a buy zone.

A group of top performing European bank stocks broke out this week. Some have returned more than 120% this year.