Yulia Slavina

Standard Chartered lifts 2026 income target as third-quarter pretax profit surges

Standard Chartered lifts 2026 income target as third-quarter pretax profit surges
Standard Chartered profit surge

Volatile market conditions and stronger client activity boost Standard Chartered's performance in the third quarter. The bank, which earns most of its revenue in Asia and Africa, also raises its full-year 2026 income growth target to above 7% from its earlier guidance of mid-5% to 7%.

Highlights

  • Standard Chartered's third-quarter pretax profit rose 27% year-on-year to $2.25 billion, beating the $1.99 billion analyst consensus.
  • Higher revenue from wealth and global markets divisions, driven by increased client trading in volatile markets, boosted earnings for the quarter.
  • The bank raised its 2026 full-year income growth target to above 7%, up from a previous midpoint 5–7%, citing stronger momentum in Asia and Africa.

Third-quarter earnings beat estimates

As reported by Reuters, Standard Chartered says third-quarter pretax profit rises 27% to $2.25 billion, helped by higher revenue in its wealth and global markets divisions as clients trade more actively in volatile markets.

That compares with $1.77 billion in the same period a year earlier and is above the $1.99 billion average of 16 analyst estimates compiled by the bank.

Upgraded outlook for 2026 income growth

Alongside the quarterly results, the bank lifts its full-year income growth target for 2026 to above 7%, up from its earlier forecast for growth in the middle of a 5% to 7% range.

The updated guidance points to stronger momentum across its core markets, with Asia and Africa remaining the main contributors to the group's revenue base.

Wipro’s second-quarter revenue beat expectations, reflecting steadier client spending and a pickup in demand in key overseas markets. Our publication previously noted that a recovery in European technology budgets helped support results, while artificial intelligence-related services began to add new revenue streams alongside core outsourcing work.

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