By Seun Ibiyemi
Trading activity on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) recorded a sharp decline during the week under review, with investors exchanging a total of 2.876 billion shares valued at N63.832 billion in 80,229 transactions.
This performance stood in stark contrast to the previous week, when 9.849 billion shares worth N305.843 billion were traded in 126,584 deals, representing a week-on-week drop in transaction value of 379.1 per cent.
The slump in activity was largely attributed to the limited three-day trading session, following the Federal Government’s declaration of Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark the Christmas celebration.
Despite the shortened week, the Financial Services Industry remained the most active sector, recording a turnover of 1.984 billion shares valued at N32.680 billion in 31,632 deals.
This sector alone accounted for 68.99 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and 51.20 per cent of the total value. The Investment Industry followed with 208.695 million shares worth N2.264 billion traded in 640 deals, while the Conglomerates Industry ranked third with 147.002 million shares valued at N6.085 billion exchanged in 1,676 deals.
Specific trading activity was dominated by Abbey Mortgage Bank Plc, VFD Group Plc, and Custodian Investment Plc, which collectively accounted for 1.471 billion shares worth N14.684 billion, representing over half of the total equity turnover volume.
Market indicators closed on a positive note, with the NGX All-Share Index appreciating by 0.97 per cent to close at 153,539.83 points, while market capitalisation rose by 0.98 per cent to N97.890 trillion. Most sectoral indices ended higher, although the NGX Premium, NGX Insurance, NGX MERI Growth, and NGX Lotus II indices recorded declines, while the Oil and Gas and Sovereign Bond indices closed flat. A total of 44 equities recorded price appreciation, led by Aluminium Extrusion Industries, Austinlaz, International Breweries, Mecure Industries, and First Holding Company Plc.
Conversely, 30 equities depreciated, with Legend Internet, Champion Breweries, Nem Insurance, AXA Mansard Insurance, and Associated Bus Company emerging as the top losers.
In corporate developments, the NGX announced the listing of an additional 2.348 billion ordinary shares of Chams Holding Company Plc on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, following the company’s rights issue.
This increased Chams’ total issued shares to 9.0 billion. Additionally, the Exchange notified trading licence holders that trading in Fidson Healthcare Plc’s rights issue of 600 million ordinary shares commenced on Friday, December 19, 2025.
Vitafoam Nigeria’s pre-tax profit jumps 1,775% to N21.5bn in FY 2025
Vitafoam Nigeria Plc has reported a remarkable surge in its financial performance for the year ended September 30, 2025, with profit before income tax jumping by 1,775 per cent year-on-year to N21.48 billion.
This represents a sharp rebound from the prior year, driven by a 35 per cent increase in Group revenue, which rose to N111.38 billion from N82.64 billion in 2024.
The company attributed this strong revenue growth to strategic pricing adjustments, a recovery in demand for its foam and bedding products, and improved cost efficiency across its operations.
Consequently, profit for the year skyrocketed by 1,427 per cent to N14.54 billion, up from N952 million in the previous year, while basic earnings per share improved significantly to N9.43 from a loss of 72 kobo.
Reflecting this robust performance, the company has proposed a dividend of N3 per share, totaling N3.752 billion, a 1,455 per cent increase over the previous year.
In addition to the cash dividend, the company proposed a bonus issue of one ordinary share for every five existing ordinary shares held by shareholders as of the close of business on February 6, 2025.
At the company level, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc posted revenue of N97.40 billion, a 33 per cent increase from 2024, with profit before tax standing at N17.49 billion, effectively reversing the N1.06 billion loss recorded a year earlier.
The market has reacted positively to Vitafoam’s trajectory, with the company’s share price closing at N79.80 as of September 30, 2025 a 263 per cent increase from N22 in the prior year. By Wednesday, December 24, 2025, the stock had climbed further to close at N94.60 per share. Year-to-date, the stock has gained 311 per cent, ranking it as the 10th best-performing stock on the NGX. Over the past four weeks alone, the stock gained 13 per cent, and it has remained active with a total volume of 99.6 million shares valued at N8.56 billion traded over the past three months.