Uchumi's share price hits 7-year high at NSE on full year profits

Uchumi extended its explosive run into the end of the week, with the stock trading at Sh0.74, up 8.82 per cent, its highest level since February 2019.

The embattled state retailer is now up 54 per cent this week, up 100 per cent in the last 31 days and up 335 per cent YTD, cementing one of the strongest rallies on the exchange.

The firm’s rally at NSE is boosted by its modest profit of about Sh8.8 million for the year ending June 2025, a rare outcome for the financially strained chain that has relied heavily on leasing out its space to generate steady income.

The financial report shows the retailer moved from a loss of roughly Sh49.7 million in the previous financial year, although the profit still fell short of the targeted Sh12.85 million.

This marks the first time in several years that the chain has closed its books in positive territory.

Even so, its future remains uncertain due to a court battle with the Kenya Defence Forces over the ownership of a 17-acre land parcel in Kasarani valued at around Sh2.38 billion.

KCB Group, which posted Sh47.3 billion in profit after tax for the nine months ended September 2025, driven by high deposits, growing loan uptake and general management costs, closed the week at Sh64.25, having gained 54.5 per cent on that price valuation.

The results represent a 3.3 per cent growth in net earnings compared to Sh45.8 billion posted in the corresponding quarter last year.

The biggest bank in Eastern Africa, with a total asset value of Sh2.04 trillion, is ranking 27th on the NSE in terms of year-to-date performance.

Market analysts say shareholders can be optimistic about the bank, knowing the stock has accrued 10 per cent over the past four-week period—ninth best on NSE.

The fourth most traded stock on the NSE over the past three months. It has traded a total volume of 151 million shares—in 15,409 deals—valued at Sh8.59 billion over the period, with an average of 2.39 million traded shares per session.

Generally, the Nairobi bourse reported missed results during the week, with the NASI increasing by 0.49 per cent, while the NSE 25 and NSE 20 share price indices decreased by 0.21 per cent and 0.09 per cent, respectively.

Market capitalisation increased by 0.49 per cent, while equity turnover and total shares traded decreased by 7.03 per cent and 21.07 per cent, respectively.