Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) Stock Passes Above 200 Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON:LLOY)’s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 92.41 and traded as high as GBX 105.10. Lloyds Banking Group shares last traded at GBX 102.44, with a volume of 203,327,000 shares changing hands.

Key Stories Impacting Lloyds Banking Group

Here are the key news stories impacting Lloyds Banking Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Lloyds advanced its share buyback programme, reporting further purchases (including 7 million shares) as part of a £1.75bn programme — a direct capital-return that reduces supply and supports EPS. Lloyds Banking Group Advances £1.75bn Share Buyback With Further Share Purchases
• Positive Sentiment: The group cancelled 8 million shares from the ongoing buyback — another mechanism tightening outstanding shares and potentially boosting per-share metrics. Lloyds Banking Group Cancels 8 Million Shares in Ongoing Buyback
• Positive Sentiment: Lloyds provided a £10m facility to BCHA to support delivery of ~300 homes in the Bournemouth/Poole area — demonstrates continued lending activity into social/ housing projects. BCHA secures £10m from Lloyds to deliver 300 homes in BCP
• Neutral Sentiment: Lloyds updated the market on voting share capital, confirming the number of ordinary shares outstanding as of 27 Feb 2026 — routine disclosure relevant for modelling share count and dilution. Lloyds Banking Group Updates Market on Voting Share Capital
• Neutral Sentiment: Lloyds Bank plc filed/submitted its Annual Report and Form 20-F/Accounts for year ended 31 Dec 2025 — provides updated financial detail and risk disclosures investors should review for guidance on capital, dividends and provisions. Lloyds Bank PLC Files Annual Report on Form 20-F
• Negative Sentiment: Lloyds will stop opening some bank accounts at branches and is pushing more customers to digital channels — a cost-saving/efficiency move that risks customer friction and negative PR. Lloyds stops opening bank accounts for customers at branches
• Negative Sentiment: The bank announced 162 branch closures in 2026 — a material branch-network reduction that lowers operating costs but raises execution, reputational and regulatory scrutiny risks. Lloyds introduces major change as 162 branches to close in 2026
• Negative Sentiment: Political pushback: MPs and local figures have criticised branch reductions and the creation/ rejection of banking hubs, adding potential for regulatory or reputational fallout. MP calls banking hub rejection ‘unacceptable’

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on LLOY. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 98 to GBX 106 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group to GBX 125 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Barclays increased their target price on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 100 to GBX 120 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Shore Capital Group downgraded Lloyds Banking Group to a “sell” rating and upped their price target for the company from GBX 84 to GBX 91 in a report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 102 to GBX 117 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Lloyds Banking Group currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of GBX 107.78.

Lloyds Banking Group Stock Down 2.3%

The company has a market cap of £60.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.85, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a fifty day moving average of GBX 102.58 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 92.47.

Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported GBX 7 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Lloyds Banking Group had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 16.66%. As a group, research analysts forecast that Lloyds Banking Group plc will post 7.3199528 EPS for the current year.

About Lloyds Banking Group

We are the largest UK retail and commercial financial services provider with over 25 million customers and a presence in nearly every community.

The Group’s main business activities are retail and commercial banking, general insurance and long-term savings, provided through the largest branch network and digital bank in the UK, with well recognised brands including Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows.

Our shares are quoted on the London and New York stock exchanges and we are one of the largest companies in the FTSE 100 index.