If I'd put $5,000 in NAB shares at the start of 2024, here's what I'd have now

How rewarding has NAB been for shareholders this year?

| More on:
A man sits thoughtfully on the couch with a laptop on his lap.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares have performed well for shareholders in 2024 to date. The NAB share price has climbed around 13% in the year so far. That compares to a rise of just 2% for the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

In this article, we're going to look at how a $5,000 investment in NAB shares would have grown.

Good returns

The NAB share price finished 2023 at $30.70, so with $5,000 an investor would have been able to buy 162 shares (with a little bit of cash leftover).

As I've already mentioned, the NAB share price has gone up by 13%, so those 162 shares would now be worth $5,634.36 (at the time of writing).

Seeing as we're only a few months into the year, we haven't seen NAB pay a dividend yet.

If NAB were to pay the same dividends over the next 12 months as the last 12 months, it could pay an annual dividend per share of $1.67. At the current valuation, that translates into a cash dividend yield of 4.8% or a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.9%.

If the NAB share price were to end 2024 at $34.78, the total shareholder return (which is dividends plus capital growth) would be close to 18%. I think that would be a market-beating performance.

What's driving the NAB share price?

To get the true answer, you'd need to go and ask each buyer of NAB shares in the last few weeks about why they were willing to pay a higher price.

Overall, the wider economic conditions are helpful for NAB. The unemployment rate remains low, inflation is reducing and interest rates are seemingly getting closer.

However, the recent FY24 first-quarter update wasn't the most positive. It reported it generated $1.7 billion of statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) and $1.8 billion of cash earnings. The cash earnings were down 16.9% year over year.

NAB talked about a slightly underlying net interest margin (NIM) because of higher deposit costs and competitive lending pressures, mostly relating to Australian home lending.

It also reported a credit impairment charge was $193 million reflecting higher arrears in Australian home lending combined with business lending volume growth. The ratio of loans that were at least 90 days overdue was 0.75% at the end of the FY24 first quarter, up from 0.62% in the first quarter of FY23.

Time will tell whether the run-up of the NAB share price is justified or not amid the rising arrears.

Wondering where you should invest $1,000 right now?

When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for over ten years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

Scott just revealed what he believes could be the 'five best ASX stocks' for investors to buy right now. We believe these stocks are trading at attractive prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now...

See The 5 Stocks *Returns as of 3 April 2025

Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Bank Shares

Woman and man calculating a dividend yield.
Bank Shares

2 ASX 200 bank stocks to sell today: Bell Potter

Bell Potter forecasts more headwinds in 2025 for these two ASX 200 banks.

Read more »

Two boys lie in the grass arm wrestling.
Share Market News

Regional bank battle:Bendigo Bank or Bank of Queensland shares?

Looking outside the big four? These two regional banks might be worth considering

Read more »

A man watches the share price movement closely.
Bank Shares

I want to buy CBA shares. What price should I pay?

What would be a good valuation to buy CBA at?

Read more »

Buy, hold, and sell ratings written on signs on a wooden pole.
Bank Shares

ANZ shares: Buy, sell, hold?

With the ANZ share price in retreat, the bank stock’s dividend yield is now at 6.2%.

Read more »

View of a business man's hand passing a $100 note to another with a bank in the background.
Bank Shares

Is the CBA share price a buy amid the global tariff sell-off?

Are CBA shares now a bargain after some volatility?

Read more »

Happy young couple saving money in piggy bank.
Bank Shares

$10,000 invested in ANZ shares 5 years ago is now worth…

Was it a smart move? Let's run the numbers.

Read more »

Frustrated and shocked business woman reading bad news online from phone.
Bank Shares

ANZ share price sinks on APRA bombshell

Let's see what the big four bank has announced this morning.

Read more »

three businessmen stand in silhouette against a window of an office with papers displaying graphs and office documents on a desk in the foreground.
Bank Shares

Westpac shares marching higher amid latest executive shakeup

With today’s announcement, Westpac continues to reshape its top level leadership.

Read more »