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Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BCS Shares Touch a New 5-Year High: Time to Buy or Book Profits?
During Tuesday's trading session, Barclays BCS shares climbed to a new 5-year high of $17.87 on the NYSE. Investor optimism stems from the company's solid financial performance and year 2025 has so far been a good one for BCS, with the stock soaring 34.3% and outperforming the industry's growth of 21.6%. Further, it has fared better than peers – HSBC Holdings HSBC and UBS Group AG UBS – in the same time frame. Barclays YTD Price Performance Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Technical indicators suggest strength for Barclays. The stock is trading above its 50-day moving average. It signals robust upward momentum and price stability for BCS. Barclays 50-Day Moving Average Image Source: Zacks Investment Research This also underscores positive market sentiments and confidence in Barclays' financial health and prospects as it continues to simplify operations and focus on core find out whether Barclays' current rally has legs or it's time to sell. Barclays has been restructuring its global footprint to reduce costs and complexity. In February, the London-based bank sold its Germany-based consumer finance business, Consumer Bank Europe, to BAWAG P.S.K. This sale is part of the company's broader strategy to exit retail banking in Europe, responding to shifts in consumer behavior post-pandemic. This will support Barclays financially by freeing up significant capital, improving its balance sheet and enabling better resource allocation to high-growth Barclays is partnering with Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. to revamp its payment acceptance business, investing £400M, while Brookfield may acquire up to 80% ownership. The move lets Barclays unlock long-term value, streamline operations and tap Brookfield's transformation expertise. This will boost competitiveness in a high-growth sector while retaining client access and the Barclaycard Payments as part of the company's plan to streamline its operations and improve efficiency, as outlined in the Investor Update in February 2024, Barclays is taking cost-saving measures. These structural cost actions resulted in gross savings of £1 billion in 2024 and are projected to achieve gross efficiency savings of £0.5 billion this year. Management anticipates total gross efficiency savings of £2 billion by the end of last November, BCS acquired Tesco's retail banking business. The move complements its existing business and strengthens its position in the market. The collaboration builds on Barclays UK's existing strategic partnerships with other leading U.K. retail, consumer electronics and loyalty program brands. The company now expects Tesco's 2025 net interest income (NII) to be £500 million, up from the previous target of £400 company also revised its group NII number for 2025. Barclays expects the metric to be more than £12.5 billion, up from prior guidance of £12.2 billion. Of this, Barclays UK is projected to generate NII of more than £7.6 the uncertain macroeconomic environment, Barclays' capital position remains robust. Given the solid balance sheet position, the company consistently rewards shareholders. It has been paying dividends regularly and plans to keep the total dividend payout stable at the 2023 level with progressive dividend growth. Further, Barclays intends to return at least £10 billion of capital to shareholders between 2024 and 2026 through dividends and share buybacks, with a preference for buybacks. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Barclays' 2025 and 2026 revenues suggests a year-over-year increase of 11% and 5%, respectively. Sales Estimates Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Also, the consensus estimate for BCS' earnings suggests a 21.2% and 22.6% jump for 2025 and 2026, respectively. Earnings estimates for both years have been revised upward over the past 30 days. Estimate Revision Image Source: Zacks Investment Research BCS stock is currently trading at a 12-month trailing price-to-tangible book (P/TB) of 0.75X. This is below the industry's 2.51X and shows that the stock is inexpensive at present. Price-to-Tangible Book Ratio (TTM) Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Barclays stock is also inexpensive compared with HSBC and UBS Group. At present, HSBC has a P/TB of 1.08X and UBS Group's P/TB is 1.33X. Barclays' robust capital position, business simplifying initiatives and cost-saving plans will drive growth. Strong brand value, relatively lower rates and a global network are expected to act as tailwinds. In 2025, the company is likely to reap the benefits of its cost-saving and business-streamlining efforts. Given its favorable long-term prospects and lower valuation, investors should consider buying BCS stock at the current levels before it's too late. Barclays currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Barclays PLC (BCS) : Free Stock Analysis Report UBS Group AG (UBS) : Free Stock Analysis Report HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
McDonald's makes first permanent menu item change since 2021 — and it comes with a new sauce
Talk about a Happy Meal. McDonald's announced the addition of chicken strips to its menu, and fans are certainly lovin' it. The fast-food chain is launching McCrispy Strips, made with 100% white meat strips and coated with a new black pepper-flavored breading. Advertisement 4 McDonald's announced the addition of McCrispy Strips to its menu. 'We've been listening to our fans on social and beyond, and they have made one thing clear: they want more chicken. But not just any chicken – they want juicy, dippable perfection,' the press release read. This marks the first time McDonald's debuted a permanent menu item in the U.S. since 2021, when they added the Crispy Chicken Sandwich. Advertisement 'When we introduce a new menu item like McCrispy Strips, we know we have a big promise to fulfill to meet our customer's expectations,' Cesar Piña, senior vice president and chief supply chain officer at McDonald's, said in a statement. The McCrispy Strips also come with a brand new Creamy Chili Dip, which is described as 'a savory, sweet and tangy sauce.' 4 The McCrispy Strips come with a brand new Creamy Chili Dip, which is described as 'a savory, sweet and tangy sauce.' McDonald's McCrispy Strips are expected to be available in all participating restaurants nationwide by May 5, though some stores already have the offering. Advertisement 'The demand for chicken strips has been remarkable to see across the industry, so we knew we had to deliver something so craveable that it was worth the wait,' Alyssa Buetikofer, chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald's, said. 'We took our time, listened to our fans and created a product we knew they would crave. And the best part is we're just getting started.' 4 McCrispy Strips are expected to be available in all participating restaurants nationwide by May 5. McDonald's The new chicken strips can be ordered in servings of three or four, and while they come with the Creamy Chili Dip, customers can opt for other sauces as well. Advertisement Prices may vary based on location and individual restaurant, but food blogger Burger Beast posted prices of $4.99 for three strips with two sauces and $5.99 for four strips with two sauces. Those waiting for the return of the beloved Snack Wrap can take this as a good sign. 4 This marks the first time McDonald's debuted a permanent menu item in the U.S. since 2021. McDonald's Back in December 2023, McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger essentially confirmed during an Investor Update Q&A that the beloved menu item will make a comeback, saying that having a McCrispy tender will 'allow us to eventually have a McCrispy Snack Wrap.' 'If you think it about in the US business we have three really strong chicken brands between McChicken, Chicken McNuggets and obviously McCrispy. But McCrispy we're in the early days, really building that brand and so looking forward, will we eventually have a crispy tender? Yes. And will that allow us to eventually have a McCrispy snack wrap? Yes. But we're still in the early days of doing that,' Erlinger said at the time. McDonald's recently teased its imminent return in a social media post, writing on X, 'snack wraps 0x.14.2025.' The post appears to suggest that the Snack Wrap will return before October, the first double-digit month of the year.
