How the CBA share price crushed the benchmark again in November

ASX 200 investors sent CBA shares flying higher in November. Buy why?

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The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price smashed the benchmark returns once more in November.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed out October trading for $142.75. At market close on Friday, the last trading day in November, those same shares were swapping hands for $158.58 apiece.

Defying a raft of bearish analyst forecasts, the CBA share price tripled the 3.38% monthly gains delivered by the ASX 200.

This sees the CBA share price up a remarkable 53% over the past 12 months. And that doesn't include the two fully franked dividend payouts.

Pity the short sellers.

Here's what's been happening with Australia's biggest bank in November.

A woman in a bright yellow jumper looks happily at her yellow piggy bank.

Image source: Getty Images

CBA share price in focus amid quarterly results

The biggest day of the month for CommBank stockholders came on 13 November.

That's the day the bank released its first quarter results for the 2025 financial year (Q1 FY 2025).

Although the CBA share price closed down 0.4% on the day, it's worth noting that all of the big four ASX 200 bank stocks ended that day in the red.

Operating income for the three months to 30 September was up 3.5% year on year. But this was tempered by a 3% increase in the bank's operating expenses.

Other highlights for the quarter included an unaudited cash net profit of some $2.5 billion. That was up 5% compared to the quarterly average achieved in H2 FY 2024. Though it was flat compared to H1 FY 2024.

"These results demonstrate ongoing focus on delivering for our customers, and disciplined operational and strategic execution," CommBank CEO Matt Comyn said following the results presentation.

While investor reaction was muted on the day of the release, the CBA share price has gained 5.99% since market close on 13 November.

With momentum building, just a few days later, the company's fast-rising market cap overtook major global bank HSBC. This saw CommBank command the number 11 spot among the world's biggest global banks in terms of its market valuation.

With 1.67 billion CBA shares outstanding at market close on Friday, CommBank enters December with a market cap of $265.40 billion.

CommBank attracts passive income investors

Not only has the ASX 200 bank stock been racing ahead of the benchmark in terms of share price gains, but the stock is also popular for its reliable passive income payments.

CBA has a long history of making two fully franked dividend payments a year. And for the past four years, those payouts have been steadily rising.

In FY 2024, the bank paid out a total of $4.65 in fully franked dividends.

At the current CBA share price, that equates to a trailing yield of 2.9%.

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended HSBC Holdings. 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.

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