National Australia Bank Results Highlight Productivity Risks For Future Returns

Simply Wall St

Mon, February 23, 2026 at 2:12 PM GMT+9 2 min read

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NAB.AX

-0.93%

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+0.02%

NABPH.AX

+0.01%

NABPJ.AX

+0.54%

NABPK.AX

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National Australia Bank reported strong first quarter results, with higher cash earnings and underlying profit supported by its business and home lending divisions.

CEO Andrew Irvine used the result to warn that Australia needs to improve productivity to sustain future growth, flagging broader economic challenges alongside the bank's performance.

The update adds a macro lens to ASX:NAB, pairing solid trading conditions with concerns about long term economic capacity.

ASX:NAB is trading at A$48.32, with the share price up 5% over the past week and 14.1% over the past month. Over longer periods, NAB has returned 14.0% year to date, 43.8% over 1 year, 88.0% over 3 years and 150.2% over 5 years. This helps frame the latest quarterly numbers in the context of a strong run for shareholders.

For investors, the combination of robust quarterly earnings and Irvine’s productivity warning puts attention on both bank specific fundamentals and broader economic settings. A key consideration is how a bank that has delivered these returns and financial results could be affected if Australia does not address the productivity issues flagged by management.

Stay updated on the most important news stories for National Australia Bank by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on National Australia Bank.

ASX:NAB Earnings & Revenue Growth as at Feb 2026

📰 Beyond the headline: 2 risks and 2 things going right for National Australia Bank that every investor should see.

Quick Assessment

**❌ Price vs Analyst Target**: At A$48.32, NAB trades about 14.9% above the A$42.06 analyst target.

**❌ Simply Wall St Valuation**: Shares are described as trading 14.9% above estimated fair value.

**✅ Recent Momentum**: The 30 day return of roughly 14.1% reflects strong recent share price momentum.

There is only one way to know the right time to buy, sell or hold National Australia Bank. Head to Simply Wall St’s company report for the latest analysis of National Australia Bank’s Fair Value.

Key Considerations

📊 Strong first quarter numbers and a long run of positive returns set expectations high, so any slowdown could draw a sharper market reaction.

📊 Watch the P/E of 20.9 versus the Banks industry average of 18.1, loan growth in business and home lending, and any further commentary on productivity from management.

⚠️ A low bad loan allowance of 53% and management concern about weak national productivity highlight sensitivity to a tougher credit or economic backdrop.

 






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Dig Deeper

For the full picture including more risks and rewards, check out the complete National Australia Bank analysis. Alternatively, you can visit the community page for National Australia Bank to see how other investors believe this latest news will impact the company’s narrative.

_ This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned._

Companies discussed in this article include NAB.AX.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly._ Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com_

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