GTCO Posts ₦1.23trn Profit, Declares Record ₦12.76 Dividend as Earnings Strength Endures
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc has released its audited consolidated and separate financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, reporting a strong performance marked by resilient core earnings and a record dividend payout.
The Group announced a profit before tax of ₦1.23 trillion, driven by solid growth in its core income lines. Interest income rose by 23.2% year-on-year, while fee income grew by 25.9%, reinforcing the company’s ability to generate sustainable earnings despite a challenging macroeconomic environment.
Profit after tax stood at ₦865.75 billion, compared to ₦1.02 trillion recorded in 2024. The decline reflects the impact of recent fiscal policy changes, particularly the introduction of withholding tax on short-term investment securities. However, GTCO noted that underlying earnings remain robust when adjusted for these policy effects.
The Group maintained a strong and diversified balance sheet across its banking, payments, pension, and funds management businesses. Total assets closed at ₦17.8 trillion, while shareholders’ funds stood at ₦3.4 trillion. Its Capital Adequacy Ratio remained exceptionally strong at 43.8%, underscoring financial stability.
Asset quality also improved, with IFRS 9 Stage 3 loans declining to 3.4% at the bank level and 5.0% at the Group level, compared to 3.5% and 5.2% respectively in 2024. Cost of Risk improved significantly to 2.2% from 4.9% in the previous year.
In terms of growth, the Group’s loan book expanded by 12.4% to ₦3.13 trillion, while deposit liabilities surged by 23.8% to ₦12.87 trillion.
Commenting on the results, Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, said the performance highlights the resilience of GTCO’s earnings capacity and strategic focus on sustainable growth.
“Our 2025 result underscores the resilience and depth of our earnings capacity. Despite a stronger Naira and tighter regulatory conditions, the quality of our earnings reflects disciplined execution and the strength of our franchise,” he said.
He added that the record dividend payout of ₦12.76 per share demonstrates the Group’s commitment to delivering superior returns to shareholders and confidence in its long-term earnings potential.
GTCO continues to rank among the top performers in Nigeria’s financial services sector, posting strong key ratios including a post-tax return on equity of 28.3%, return on assets of 5.3%, and a cost-to-income ratio of 27.9%.
With operations spanning Africa and the United Kingdom, the Group remains focused on expanding its financial ecosystem, driving innovation, and delivering consistent value to stakeholders.