Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) shares trailed the big four S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stocks in January.
In the first month of 2026, the ASX 200 gained a solid 1.8%. And only one of the big four Aussie banks managed to outpace those gains.
Here’s how their performances stack up.
CBA shares trail the big four pack in January
When the closing bell sounded on the shortened trading day of 31 December, CBA shares were trading for $160.57. At the end of the trading day on 30 January, shares were swapping hands for $149.36.
This saw CommBank stock down 7.0% over the month just past.
And with BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares charging higher, January saw CBA lose its title as the biggest stock on the ASX to the Aussie mining giant. That crown was handed over on the 27th.
Meanwhile, Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) shares managed to end the month in the green. Barely.
Westpac shares closed out December trading for $38.60 and ended January at $38.82 each. This saw the Westpac share price up 0.6% for the month.
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) shares outpaced both Westpac and CBA shares but still fell short of the benchmark.
ANZ shares closed on 31 December at $36.34 each and ended January trading for $36.70, put the ANZ share price up 1.0% for the month.
Which brings us to the top performing big four bank stock last month, National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB).
NAB shares closed out December trading for $42.31and ended January swapping hands for $43.37 apiece. This put the NAB share price up 2.5% for the month.
What’s been happening with CBA shares?
After smashing the returns delivered by the other big four ASX 200 bank stocks from late 2023 until notching all-time highs on 25 June last year, CBA shares have come under selling pressure.
Most analysts have been cautioning that Australia’s biggest bank has been trading at a material premium to its peers for several years. And after CBA stock closed at $191.40 a share on 25 June, the market appears to finally have sat up and taken notice.
Mind you, it’s not that CBA is unprofitable.
At its September quarterly results, CBA reported that home loans grew by $9.3 billion over the three months. And the bank’s quarterly cash net profit after tax (NPAT) came in at some $2.6 billion, up 2% year-on-year.
The post What happened with the big four ASX 200 bank stocks like ANZ and CBA shares in January? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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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 recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.