Standard Chartered (STAN.L)
A UK-listed bank that does almost none of its business in the UK - its map runs through Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Is Standard Chartered a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: A UK-listed bank that does almost none of its business in the UK - its map runs through Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
long-run Asian and African wealth and trade growth continues to exceed developed-market growth
structural headwinds such as currency volatility or regional instability persist
What does Standard Chartered do?
Despite its London listing, Standard Chartered earns most of its money outside Britain, across a network spanning Asian, African and Middle Eastern markets. That ties its fortunes to emerging-market growth, trade flows and regional currencies far more than to UK interest rates. A trailing P/E: Price-to-earnings: the share price divided by yearly profit per share. Lower can mean cheaper; higher often means investors expect fast growth. of 13.6 stepping down to a forward P/E: Like P/E, but using analysts' forecast of NEXT year's profit instead of last year's. A much lower forward figure implies profits are expected to jump. of 10.2 suggests the market is pricing in earnings growth. The one thing worth watching -> its 2.1% dividend yield: The yearly dividend as a percentage of the share price - roughly the income you'd earn from dividends alone. is the lowest of the banks covered here.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on momentum and growth, and weakest on quality.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 2.4% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 9% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 26% of sales into profit
- Growth screens high (71/100)
- Momentum screens high (82/100)
- Geographic exposure to faster-growing Asian, African and Middle Eastern economies rather than the UK alone
- Highest Momentum score (85) among the six stocks in this set, reflecting a strong recent share-price trend
- Forward P/E of 10.2 versus trailing 13.6 implies expected earnings growth
- Emerging-market currency depreciation can reduce reported (sterling) earnings even if local profits are stable
- A China or broader Asian slowdown would likely hit trade and wealth-management income
- Operating across many regulatory jurisdictions adds compliance and geopolitical risk
What do Standard Chartered's numbers mean?
How much money does Standard Chartered make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Standard Chartered pay a dividend?
Yes - Standard Chartered currently pays a dividend of about 2.4% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
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What are the scenarios for Standard Chartered?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Standard Chartered?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Geographic exposure to faster-growing Asian, African and Middle Eastern economies rather than the UK alone
- Highest Momentum score (85) among the six stocks in this set, reflecting a strong recent share-price trend
- Forward P/E of 10.2 versus trailing 13.6 implies expected earnings growth
- Revenue grew 9% versus the prior comparable period
- Lowest dividend yield (2.1%) of the banks covered here
- Quality score of 38 is the lowest of its five factor scores
- Earnings are exposed to multiple currencies and jurisdictions, adding complexity versus a purely domestic bank
- Emerging-market currency depreciation can reduce reported (sterling) earnings even if local profits are stable
- A China or broader Asian slowdown would likely hit trade and wealth-management income
- Operating across many regulatory jurisdictions adds compliance and geopolitical risk
- Momentum-driven share-price moves can reverse quickly if sentiment shifts
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- Forward earnings growth implied by the 10.2 forward P/E does not show up in coming results
- Revenue growth decelerates sharply from the current +9% pace
- The Momentum score falls materially alongside weaker regional economic data
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →