Barclays Share Price Jumps After Q1 Earnings Top Expectations

Barclays (LON: BARC) shares gained more than 3% at the start of Wednesday’s session after the bank posted stronger-than-expected first-quarter results, with pre-tax profit and revenue ahead of analyst forecasts.

For the three months to 31 March 2025, profit before tax rose 19% year-on-year to £2.7 billion, exceeding the £2.49 billion estimate compiled by LSEG. Revenue climbed 11% to £7.7 billion, above the £7.33 billion expected.

Chief Executive C.S. Venkatakrishnan said the performance was “another strong quarter of execution,” highlighting growth across all major business lines and maintaining confidence in Barclays’ 2025 and 2026 targets. 

“We grew our top line income by 11%, our profit before tax by 19%, and our earnings per share by 26%,” he said.

Return on tangible equity (RoTE) stood at 14%, while earnings per share improved to 13.0p from 10.3p a year earlier. The bank also reported a Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 13.9%, at the upper end of its target range.

The Investment Bank division posted a 16% rise in income to £3.87 billion. Barclays UK revenue climbed 14%, bolstered by higher structural hedge income and the recent Tesco Bank acquisition.

Operating expenses were up 5% to £4.4 billion, offset partly by £150 million in cost savings. 

Barclays reaffirmed its full-year guidance, with a 2025 net interest income target above £12.5 billion.