Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) Reaches New 1-Year High – Should You Buy?

Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON:LLOY)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 102.75 and last traded at GBX 102.58, with a volume of 372021344 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at GBX 101.35.

More Lloyds Banking Group News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Lloyds launches a refreshed brand platform described as a “bold creative reset,” which could help customer engagement and brand perception across retail franchises. Lloyds launches new brand platform amid ‘bold creative reset’
• Positive Sentiment: Lloyds agreed a £195m financing package for housing provider Orbit Group to support sustainability upgrades — a sizable corporate loan that boosts lending income and reinforces the bank’s ESG lending credentials. Lloyds Banking Group Announces £195M Finance Package for Orbit Group Orbit Group secures £195m package to support housing sustainability goals
• Positive Sentiment: Lloyds enabled the UK’s first public blockchain transaction using tokenized deposits — a technology-first move that could lower settlement costs and open new product capabilities. Lloyds Banking Group Enables UK’s First Public Blockchain Transaction with Tokenized Deposits
• Positive Sentiment: Senior executives made routine share purchases under an incentive plan — a signal of insider confidence (though described as ongoing/routine). Executives Acquire Shares Under Ongoing Incentive Plan
• Neutral Sentiment: Market commentary is assessing whether Lloyds remains cheap after crossing 100p; valuation metrics (P/E ~17.8, PEG ~1.84) and improving profitability keep it in analysts’ buy/hold conversations. The Lloyds share price is now over 100p. So are the shares still cheap?
• Neutral Sentiment: Sector-wide strength (Barclays, NatWest) is being cited as a factor supporting bank stocks’ runs into 2026 — Lloyds is riding the same tailwinds. Can Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest shares continue their epic run in 2026?
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent fundamentals: last reported quarterly EPS ~6.30 GBX, ROE ~11.2%, net margin ~16.7%; market cap ~£59.6bn — solid banking metrics but not without cyclical exposure.
• Negative Sentiment: Staff are threatening legal action related to pay and conditions, which could lead to extra costs or distraction if escalated. Banking staff threaten to sue Lloyds Bank
• Negative Sentiment: The information commissioner is questioning Lloyds’ use of staff banking data in pay talks — a regulatory inquiry that raises compliance and reputational risk. Lloyds questioned by watchdog over use of staff banking data in pay talks
• Negative Sentiment: Lloyds/Halifax plan to close 54 branches in 2026 — a cost-saving move that may reduce physical presence and attract negative local press or customer pushback. Lloyds and Halifax to close 54 banks in 2026 – full list of locations

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup increased their price objective on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 84 to GBX 97 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a GBX 93 target price on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research report on Friday, October 10th. Shore Capital reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a GBX 84 price target on shares of Lloyds Banking Group in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 100 to GBX 102 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 100 to GBX 120 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of GBX 101.57.

Lloyds Banking Group Stock Performance

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 95.18 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 86.39. The firm has a market cap of £60.08 billion, a PE ratio of 17.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.23.

Lloyds Banking Group (LON:LLOY) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, December 11th. The financial services provider reported GBX 6.30 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 predict that Lloyds Banking Group plc will post 7.3199528 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile

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.