The bank exceeded analyst forecasts with $19.5 billion pretax profit and announced a $1 billion share buyback program.
HSBC Holdings reported a 23% year-on-year increase in first-half pretax profit to $19.5 billion, surpassing analyst estimates of $18.9 billion. Profit after tax rose to $15.3 billion, up $2.9 billion from the same period in 2025, driven by growth in lending and wealth management revenue, which climbed 11% to $37.7 billion.
The bank had paused share buybacks for three quarters following its October announcement to acquire full ownership of Hang Seng Bank, a deal that closed in January for nearly $14 billion. HSBC also declared a second interim dividend of $0.10 per share, bringing the total first-half dividend to $0.20.
HSBC raised its 2026 net interest income guidance to at least $46 billion, citing favorable interest rate conditions. The bank’s annualized return on tangible equity reached 18.2%, reflecting strong performance.