Are Lloyds (LSE:LLOY) And NatWest (LSE:NWG) Still The FTSE 100's Best Value Trade?

3 min read | July 16, 2026 12:49 PM BST | By Vivek Singh

Highlights

  • Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) and NatWest Group (LSE:NWG) continue to feature prominently in commentary about the FTSE 100's value shares.
  • UK banking stocks have been cited, alongside miners, as key contributors lifting the broader index in recent sessions.
  • Analysts continue to debate whether UK banks remain overlooked relative to their earnings power and balance sheet strength.

Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) and NatWest Group (LSE:NWG) remain central to the FTSE 100's value narrative this week, as banking shares continue to lift the index alongside mining peers.

Lloyds Banking Group (LSE:LLOY) and NatWest Group (LSE:NWG) remain firmly in focus this week as UK banking shares continue to feature prominently in discussions about the FTSE 100 value investing story. Commentary across the market has repeatedly cited banks, alongside mining companies, as key contributors helping to lift the broader index, reinforcing a theme that has persisted through recent trading sessions.

Why Are UK Banks Central To The FTSE 100 Value Narrative?

Both Lloyds and NatWest have long been cited by value-focused commentators as examples of UK-listed companies trading at valuations that some argue do not fully reflect their underlying earnings power and balance sheet strength. The domestic banking sector has benefited from a period of improved profitability, and this has kept both lenders at the centre of debate about whether UK banks remain structurally undervalued relative to international peers. Recent market commentary has continued to highlight banks as a sector driving gains across the FTSE 100, alongside mining companies benefiting from firmer commodity sentiment.

How Do Lloyds And NatWest Compare Within The Sector?

Lloyds, with its focus on UK retail and commercial banking, and NatWest, which has continued its transition following changes to its shareholder base, both continue to be discussed as bellwethers for the broader domestic banking sector. Their performance is often viewed in tandem, given their shared exposure to UK consumer and business lending trends, interest rate movements, and the broader macroeconomic backdrop. Commentators tracking the FTSE 100's value names frequently reference both stocks together when assessing the sector's overall attractiveness relative to other parts of the market.

What Could Shape Sentiment Toward UK Banks Next?

Looking ahead, sentiment toward Lloyds, NatWest and the broader UK banking sector is likely to remain sensitive to interest rate expectations, trends in consumer lending activity, and any regulatory developments affecting capital requirements or shareholder distributions. The continued strength of banks and miners in lifting the FTSE 100 has been a recurring theme in recent market commentary, and investors will likely continue watching both sectors closely as indicators of the broader index's direction.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why are Lloyds and NatWest considered value stocks?
    Both banks have frequently been cited by commentators as trading at valuations that do not fully reflect their earnings power and balance sheet strength, a characteristic commonly associated with value investing.
  • What sectors are currently supporting the FTSE 100 alongside banks?
    Mining companies have also been cited as key contributors lifting the broader index in recent commentary, alongside UK banking stocks.
  • What factors influence sentiment toward Lloyds and NatWest?
    Interest rate expectations, consumer and business lending trends, and regulatory developments affecting capital requirements are commonly cited as key factors shaping sentiment toward both banks.

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