ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares have delivered the best 12-month gains of any of the big four S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stocks.
On Tuesday, ANZ stock closed up 1.05%, trading for $36.59 a share.
That sees shares in the ASX 200 bank stock up 21.24% since this time last year.
Atop those capital gains, ANZ shares also trade on a 4.5% trailing dividend yield, franked at 70%.
That sees ANZ surpassing the second-best-performing big four bank, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC). Westpac shares have gained 18% over 12 months. And on the passive income front, Westpac shares trade on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 3.9%.
National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares come in a distant third, up 8.83% over 12 months. NAB shares trade on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 4%.
Which brings us to the laggard, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). After leading the pack in 2024 and the first half of 2025, shares in Australia’s biggest bank have come under pressure. CBA shares are now down 5.41% since this time last year. CBA shares trade on a fully-franked trailing dividend yield of 3.2%.
But with ANZ shares having delivered the best 12-month gains among the big four Aussie banks, and trading at the highest dividend yield, Sanlam Private Wealth’s Remo Greco believes now is an opportune time to take some profits off the table (courtesy of The Bull).
Time to sell ANZ shares?
“Investors responded positively after the bank unveiled its 2030 strategy in late 2025,” said Greco, who has a sell rating on ANZ shares. “The shares rose from $32.67 on September 24, 2025 to close at $38.85 on November 12.”
ANZ released its 2030 strategy update on 13 October.
“Under our new strategy, customers are at the centre of everything we do â whether it’s improving their experiences, offering them leading technologies and platforms, or keeping them safe,” ANZ CEO Nuno Matos said on the day.
“Given ANZ was the cheapest major bank in the sector with the highest yield, the bounce was understandable. The shares were trading at $36.34 on January 22, 2026,” Greco noted.
According to Greco:
The 2030 strategy included ceasing the $800 million share buy-back and accelerating delivery of the ANZ Plus digital front end to all retail and business customers. Reducing duplication and simplifying the bank is part of the plan.
Explaining his sell rating on ANZ shares, Greco concluded, “We believe the ANZ is trading at a premium given the early stages of an ambitious strategy. We would be inclined to lock in some profits at these levels.”
The post Sell alert! Why this analyst is calling time on ANZ shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
Should you invest $1,000 in Australia And New Zealand Banking Group right now?
Before you buy Australia And New Zealand Banking Group shares, consider this:
Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now… and Australia And New Zealand Banking Group wasn’t one of them.
The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*
And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys…
* Returns as of 1 Jan 2026
.custom-cta-button p {
margin-bottom: 0 !important;
}
More reading
- ASX Sectors to target and avoid in 2026: Expert
- One ASX 200 giant to buy, one to hold, and one to sell
- Should I buy ANZ, VAS, and Zip shares this week?
- 3 reasons some brokers think it’s time to sell CBA shares
- Is the ANZ share price a buy today?
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 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.
Leave a Reply