Here’s why investors should consider buying Barclays shares as they continue to soar

Barclays shares have been one of the best performers on the Footsie recently. This Fool explains why he thinks the stock can keep rising.

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Shares in Blue Eagle Bank Barclays (LSE: BARC) are living up to their name as they continue to fly. They’ve soared 25.6% in the last 12 months alone.

Today, a share in the global powerhouse would set me back 191.7p. It can’t be just me who thinks that seems like an absolute steal.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Barclays Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.co.uk

Cheap as chips

At that price, it means its shares are trading on a measly price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 7.1. In all fairness, that may not seem like a bargain when comparing it to its UK peers. For example, Lloyds also has a P/E ratio of 7.1, while NatWest’s is 5.7.

Should you invest £1,000 in Lloyds Banking Group right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Lloyds Banking Group made the list?

See the 6 stocks

However, when stacking it up against its international competition, Barclays stands out. It’s considerably cheaper than JP Morgan, which has a P/E of 12.2. It also looks like good value when put next to Bank of America (12.1).

What’s more, it’s also expected to get cheaper in the years to come. Its forward P/E is forecasted to drop to just above five by 2025.

Time to turnaround

That said, there is one explanation why investors can pick up Barclays for such a cheap price today. It has fallen behind the pack in the last few years when it comes to effectively using its assets.

Investors can see this when looking at its return on tangible equity, which for 2023 was 10.6%. For context, Lloyds’s was 15.8%.

While that’s an issue, it’s pleasing to see the steps the bank is taking to change this. Namely, CEO CS Venkatakrishnan has laid out plans for a strategic overhaul, the first of its kind within the business since 2016.

The firm is set to implement multiple initiatives as part of this. It’s striving to cut costs as it aims for £2bn of gross efficiency savings by 2026.

Furthermore, it’s splitting up into five divisions: UK Consumer, US Consumer, UK Corporate, Investment, and Private & Wealth. It hopes this move will “provide an enhanced and more granular disclosure of performance” and be key in boosting accountability across the business.

£10bn reward

But there’s another reason why at their slashed price I see Barclays shares as an attractive buy. The stock provides passive income through its 4.2% dividend yield. Dividends are never guaranteed, but the business has put emphasis on rewarding shareholders, which is always encouraging to see.

Last year it returned £3bn to investors, which was a 37% increase from the year prior. Looking ahead, it wants to return £10bn over the next three years through dividends and share buybacks.

Time to buy

I’m a shareholder in Barclays after first opening a position last summer. I’ve been slowly adding to my holdings since, and, to date, I’ve made a paper gain of 34.6%.

Nevertheless, I’m still eager to pick up some more stock with any spare cash I have. The market is clearly optimistic that Barclays will thrive in the years to come. And while implementing its strategic plans will come with challenges, should the business deliver then I’m confident that its price can keep rising.

Barclays looks too cheap to pass on, in my opinion. I think investors should strongly consider buying some shares as well.

But what does the head of The Motley Fool’s investing team think?

Should you invest £1,000 in Lloyds Banking Group right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.

And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Lloyds Banking Group made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Charlie Keough has positions in Barclays Plc and Lloyds Banking Group Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays Plc and Lloyds Banking Group Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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