Sterling CEO Yemi Odubiyi actively acquired 82 million shares worth ₦578.1 million through his investment firm.
The Nigerian Exchange confirmed that he executed the purchase in two tranches on December 24 and 29, 2025.
Strategic Share Acquisition
In the first tranche, he bought 62 million shares, while the second tranche comprised 20 million shares.
He paid ₦7.05 per share, a price likely appealing to value-focused investors.
Rising Influence In Sterling
Previously, Mr. Odubiyi held no indirect shares in Sterling, according to the company’s September financial statements.
Meanwhile, his direct holdings rose from 376 million shares in December 2024 to 729 million by September 2025.
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Altogether, he now controls 811 million units, representing a 1.56% stake in Sterling.
However, Chairman Adeyemi Adeola retains the largest shareholding with 12.26 billion units, roughly 23.5% of the total.
Strong Market Performance
Sterling shares rose over 25% this year, climbing from ₦5.60 to ₦7.05 by December 31, 2025.
The stock performed steadily after a weak April, reaching a peak of ₦7.80 in August before easing.
January began positively with a 3.57% gain, while April saw a mild pullback to ₦5.40.
From May, strong momentum lifted the price to ₦5.70 by June, delivering a modest first-half gain.
Furthermore, Sterling’s nine-month profit before tax jumped 141% to ₦70.96 billion, driven by stronger interest income.
Interest income increased 38.7% to ₦262.4 billion, largely from loans and advances to customers.
Operating income rose 57.7% to ₦222.2 billion, supported by fees, trading, and other income.
After impairment charges, operating income stood at ₦214.2 billion, reflecting robust financial health.
Total assets grew from ₦3.5 trillion to ₦4.0 trillion, while retained earnings climbed 62% to ₦102.1 billion.
By buying shares at ₦7.05, Mr. Odubiyi actively signalled confidence in Sterling’s growth trajectory for 2026.
