Close Brothers Group shares have endured a turbulent 2026. Dan Ndoye struggled to justify his £34m price tag at Nottingham Forest. Close Brothers has faced its own valuation challenges instead. The merchant bank announced a £320 million provision for motor finance commission redress in April 2026 Omaze UK winners receive life-changing news. Close Brothers’ provision delivered life-changing impact to its share price. Here is everything you need to know about the CBG share price, analyst ratings and the company’s turnaround plan in 2026.
Current CBG Share Price and Key Statistics
Close Brothers Group trades on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker CBG. The share price stood at approximately 445 pence on 14 May 2026 Back Market UK sells refurbished devices. Close Brothers’ valuation needs refurbishing after a difficult period.
The stock has fallen significantly from its all-time high of 1,857.5p reached in April 2015. However, it has recovered from its 52-week low of 314p. The year-to-date performance remains negative overall.
Recent Share Price Performance
CBG shares have shown significant volatility in 2026. The stock dropped sharply in March following a short-seller report from Viceroy Research. It rebounded strongly in April after the company announced its motor finance provision.
May 2026 Trading
- 14 May 2026: 445.00p (+2.58%)
- 13 May 2026: 433.80p
- 11 May 2026: 464.40p (-0.81%)
- 8 May 2026: 472.80p (-3.01%)
- 7 May 2026: 477.80p (-0.67%)
- 6 May 2026: 482.30p (+7.08%)
Motor Finance Provision: £320m Hit
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is investigating historical motor finance commission arrangements. The issue affects the entire car finance sector. Close Brothers has now booked a total provision of approximately £320 million for potential redress West Ham vs Chelsea saw Bowen’s last-gasp equaliser stun the Blues. Close Brothers’ provision delivered a last-gasp shock to investors instead.
Chief Executive Adrian Sainsbury confirmed the bank could “comfortably absorb” this cost . The company’s CET1 capital ratio stands at a robust level, providing a significant buffer above regulatory requirements. However, the final cost could be “materially higher or lower” depending on final FCA rules and potential legal challenges.
Shore Capital Downgrade: ‘Time to Take Profits’
Shore Capital downgraded Close Brothers to Hold from Buy on 8 April 2026 . The broker recommended that investors take profits after a sharp rally in the shares. The downgrade came after Close Brothers announced its £320 million motor finance provision.
Shore had previously upgraded the shares to Buy following a short-seller report from Viceroy Research. The Viceroy report had suggested that Close Brothers would need a materially higher provision that could potentially threaten solvency. This caused a sharp selloff in the shares Ben Duckett smashed a double century for Nottinghamshire. Viceroy’s report smashed Close Brothers’ share price temporarily.
“At the time, we considered these claims to be excessive, a view supported by management commentary,” the broker said . “Today’s announcement suggests that our initial assessment was broadly correct.”
However, Shore noted that “some uncertainty remains around the ultimate provision, given the potential for legal challenges to the scheme and claims pursued outside the FCA framework.” With the shares up 33% since the upgrade, Shore believes it is “now appropriate to take some profits, particularly given that underlying operational performance remains weak.”
UBS Upgrade: ‘Valuation Does Not Reflect Recovery’
UBS upgraded Close Brothers to Buy from Neutral on 26 March 2026 . The investment bank set a price target of 555 pence, implying significant upside from current levels.
UBS noted that the stock had fallen roughly 25% year-to-date at the time of the upgrade. The decline was impacted by concerns over potential motor finance redress costs, a slow-to-recover loan book, declining income and profits, and higher restructuring charges.
The bank argued that current valuations embed a higher risk of motor provision increases than is likely. It noted that Close Brothers’ £300 million provision fits well with its lending market share.
RBC Capital Upgrade
RBC Capital also upgraded Close Brothers to Outperform earlier in 2026. The broker set a price target of 625 pence. RBC cited revised P/E assumptions that will support future share repricing. The broker believes that execution risks are already reflected in the shares at current levels.
Analyst Consensus and Price Targets
Following the recent rating changes, analyst sentiment on Close Brothers is mixed. The consensus rating is a Moderate Buy based on 8 analysts.
| Rating | Number of Analysts |
|---|---|
| Buy | 6 |
| Hold | 2 |
| Sell | 0 |
The average price target stands at 500.63 pence. This represents forecasted upside of approximately 12.5% from current levels. The highest price target is 625 pence (RBC Capital). The lowest is 300 pence (a single bearish forecast) Athletic Club vs Arsenal saw the Gunners reach the Champions League final. Close Brothers analysts are divided on the stock’s final destination.
Job Cuts and Restructuring Plan
Close Brothers is accelerating its transformation programme. The bank expects £60 million in annualised cost savings by the end of 2027. The programme includes a planned reduction of around 600 roles, representing approximately 15% of its 4,000-strong workforce .
Management expects to reach around 2,000 full-time equivalents by fiscal 2028. The bank plans to increase outsourcing and offshoring. Automation and AI will reduce manual processes. Early AI use cases include complaints management and fraud detection.
Shore Capital noted that “underlying operational performance remains weak” and “significant execution will be required for the group to deliver on management’s FY28 double-digit return on tangible equity target, which we view as stretching” Scotland vs Belarus saw McTominay strike late. Close Brothers’ turnaround will require a late strike as well.
First-Half Results 2026: Mixed Performance
Close Brothers released its half-year results in March 2026. The numbers showed resilience despite significant headwinds Dexter: New Blood saw the franchise resurrected. Close Brothers’ results showed a potential resurrection story.
- Adjusted operating profit: £65.2 million (down 19% from £80.5 million)
- Operating loss before tax: £65.5 million (improved from £102.2 million loss)
- Loss attributable to shareholders: £64.4 million (improved 42% from £111.8 million)
- Adjusted basic EPS: 27.1p (down from 33.8p)
- Net interest margin: 7.1% (down from 7.3%)
- Bad debt ratio: 0.8% (improved from 1.0%)
- Loan book: £9.2 billion (down 2% from £9.5 billion)
Viceroy Short-Seller Report: Claims Rejected
A research report from Viceroy Research caused significant volatility in March 2026. The report suggested Close Brothers would need a materially higher provision. It claimed this could potentially threaten solvency.
Close Brothers management “strongly disagrees” with the report. The company stated its provisioning approach follows robust governance processes. Shore Capital supported the company’s position, calling Viceroy’s claims “excessive” .
Dividend Suspension
Close Brothers will not pay an interim dividend for fiscal 2026. The bank last paid a dividend in November 2023. The current dividend yield stands at 0%.
Management has stated dividends will be reviewed once there is more clarity on the FCA’s review. The bank’s priority remains maintaining a strong capital position. The CET1 ratio of 14.3% exceeds regulatory requirements.
Outlook: Double-Digit Returns by 2028
Management has set ambitious targets. The bank aims to reach double-digit return on tangible equity by the 2028 financial year. Returns would then rise thereafter.
The strategy rests on three pillars: simplify the business (largely complete), optimise operations (currently underway), and grow in core markets. The accelerated cost savings programme is central to this plan .
CEO Adrian Sainsbury expressed confidence in the company’s future. “Close Brothers has been part of the backbone of the UK business community for nearly 150 years,” he said. “We are well positioned for future growth as a specialist banking group.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CBG share price today? Close Brothers (CBG) trades around 445 pence as of 14 May 2026. The share price has recovered significantly from its 52-week low of 314p in June 2025.
Why did Close Brothers shares fall? The stock fell due to concerns over the FCA motor finance commission redress scheme. A short-seller report from Viceroy Research added to the pressure. The bank has since clarified its position.
Is Close Brothers a buy or sell? Analysts are divided. Six analysts rate it Buy, two rate it Hold, and none rate it Sell. UBS and RBC have upgraded the stock. Shore Capital recently downgraded to Hold, recommending profit-taking.
Does Close Brothers pay a dividend? No. The dividend has been suspended since November 2023. The bank will review dividends once there is more clarity on the FCA’s final rules.
How many jobs is Close Brothers cutting? The bank plans to reduce headcount by around 600 roles. This represents approximately 15% of its 4,000-strong workforce. The cuts are part of a £60 million cost-saving programme.
What is Close Brothers’ motor finance provision? The bank has booked approximately £320 million for potential customer redress related to motor finance commission arrangements. The final cost could be higher or lower depending on FCA rules and legal challenges.
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