Investors intensified activity across insurance, banking and fintech-linked stocks last week, with Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc emerging as the most actively traded equity by volume on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).
Market data show that Mutual Benefits posted a turnover of 79,023,338 shares valued at N427.08 million on Friday, February 20, 2026 — the final trading session of the week. The performance underscores sustained investor appetite for low-priced insurance stocks, despite ongoing regulatory pressure on insurers to strengthen their capital base.
Zenith Leads in Value
In the banking segment, Zenith Bank Plc ranked second by trading volume, with 43,988,813 shares exchanged. However, it led the market in value terms, recording transactions worth N3.79 billion.
The strong showing reflects continued demand for Tier-1 banking stocks, buoyed by solid earnings performance and attractive dividend yields.
Insurance, Fintech Stocks See Active Trading
Activity also extended to the technology-driven services space, where Chams Plc recorded 43,899,703 shares valued at N181.99 million. Although the stock ranked among the top five by volume, market watchers suggest much of the activity may have been driven by short-term positioning.
Insurance equities maintained strong representation on the volume chart. AIICO Insurance Plc traded 42,354,858 shares worth N179.81 million, while Veritas Kapital Assurance Plc posted 35,999,453 shares valued at N90.55 million.
The sustained turnover in insurance counters signals lingering investor interest in the segment, particularly in relatively low-priced stocks that may offer speculative upside.
Sector Sentiment
While equity market movements are often influenced by speculative trading, the prominence of Mutual Benefits, AIICO and Veritas Kapital on the activity chart could encourage a more watchful stance toward the insurance sector in the coming sessions.
Meanwhile, Zenith Bank’s dominance in value traded reaffirms its position as a bellwether stock within the banking space, as investors continue to rotate funds into fundamentally strong financial institutions.
