The Nigerian Exchange has produced some huge winners in 2025 and early 2026. But “best-performing stock” and “best stock to invest in” are not always the same thing. Some shares are running because of real earnings momentum. Others are moving on speculation. This page separates those ideas.
Think of this article as the leaderboard page in the NGX Pulse stock cluster. If you want the broader investability guide for long-term stock picking, read Best Nigerian Stocks to Invest In 2026. If you want the market’s recent winners and strongest dividend names, stay here.
In this article
NGX Market Snapshot: March 2026
The NGX has delivered one of Africa’s strongest equity performances heading into 2026. The rally has been driven by banks, industrials, agriculture, and selected energy names, with foreign investors returning as balance sheets improve and the naira stabilises.
Top NGX Gainers Leaderboard 2026
This leaderboard highlights recent winners. Some are backed by strong fundamentals. Others deserve more caution. That distinction matters if you are using price performance as a starting point for research.
| # | Stock | Symbol | Gain | Period | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Presco Plc | PRESCO | Triple-digit | FY 2025 | Fundamental |
2 | Okomu Oil Palm | OKOMUOIL | +150% | FY 2025 | Fundamental |
3 | Julius Berger | JBERGER | +58.24% | Feb 2026 | Fundamental |
4 | RT Briscoe | RTBRISCOE | +59.16% | Feb 2026 | Momentum |
5 | Aradel Holdings | ARADEL | +15.36% | Weekly peak | Fundamental |
6 | First HoldCo | FIRSTHOLDCO | +12.15% | Feb 20 week | Fundamental |
7 | Lafarge Africa | WAPCO | +11.41% | Feb 20 week | Fundamental |
8 | Dangote Cement | DANGCEM | +10.13% | Feb 20 week | Fundamental |
9 | MTN Nigeria | MTNN | +10.03% | Feb 20 week | Fundamental |
- | Fortis Global Insurance | FTGINSURE | +370% | Feb 2026 | Speculative |
Deep Dive: Strong Fundamental Gainers
Presco stands out because it is not just a gainer. It is also one of the strongest dividend stories on the market. That combination makes it more durable than many momentum names.
Track PRESCO live on NGX Pulse →Okomu is a textbook example of a Nigerian stock whose price performance is being supported by a real operating story rather than speculation alone.
Track OKOMUOIL live on NGX Pulse →Julius Berger is on this page because it shows how a strong infrastructure and earnings narrative can quickly change market perception on the NGX.
Track JBERGER live on NGX Pulse →Top NGX Dividend Stocks 2026
Some readers arrive here for performance. Others arrive looking for income. These are the dividend names that deserve the most attention in 2026.
| # | Stock | Symbol | Yield | Frequency | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Seplat Energy | SEPLAT | >5% + special | Quarterly | Best income profile on the NGX |
2 | Presco Plc | PRESCO | ~9.8% | Interim + Final | High yield plus growth |
3 | UBA Plc | UBA | ~9% | Interim + Final | Pan-African dividend play |
4 | GTCO Holdings | GTCO | ~8-9% | Interim + Final | Large-cap all-rounder |
5 | Zenith Bank | ZENITHBANK | ~6.5% | Interim + Final | Reliable blue-chip income |
Track Gainers, Dividends, And Price Alerts In One Place
Use NGX Pulse to follow the market’s best-performing names, watch dividend dates, and monitor your portfolio from one dashboard.
Open Free Portfolio Tracker →NGX Dividend Season: When Do Nigerian Stocks Pay?
Most Nigerian companies declare dividends between March and June based on their year-end results. Banks tend to announce earlier. Consumer goods and industrials often follow later. Seplat remains unusual because of its quarterly schedule.
If you are using this page to build an income watchlist, pair it with how dividends work on the NGX and how to read NGX market data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top NGX gainers in 2026?
Among the strongest fundamentals-backed names, Presco, Okomu Oil, Julius Berger, Aradel, Dangote Cement, and MTN Nigeria stand out. This page ranks them by recent performance and highlights which moves appear more durable.
Which NGX stock pays the highest dividend?
Seplat remains one of the strongest dividend stories on the exchange because of its payout profile and quarterly schedule. Presco, UBA, GTCO, and Zenith Bank also remain important income names.
Are top gainers always good long-term investments?
No. Some top gainers reflect real earnings strength, while others are speculative. That is why this page is performance-first. For a broader investment shortlist, use the main guide on the best Nigerian stocks for 2026.