LAGOS — The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) maintained its bullish trajectory during the second week of March, with the All-Share Index (ASI) gaining 1.55% to close at 201,474.89 points. This rally added approximately ₦1.97 trillion to the market capitalization, which now stands at a historic ₦129.33 trillion.
According to the latest weekly market report, the surge was driven by a mix of stellar corporate earnings, dividend announcements, and aggressive positioning by institutional investors. Here are the top 10 stocks that led the pack for the week ended March 13, 2026.
The Weekly Top Gainers
The week was dominated by the industrial and financial sectors, with several mid-cap stocks hitting their 10% daily price limits.
| Rank | Company | Weekly Gain | Closing Price | Sector |
| 1 | BUA Foods Plc | +23.4% | N585.00 | Consumer Goods |
| 2 | Guinness Nigeria Plc | +18.1% | N142.50 | Consumer Goods |
| 3 | Access Holdings | +15.2% | N38.60 | Banking |
| 4 | Transcorp Hotels | +14.5% | N115.00 | Hospitality |
| 5 | Wema Bank | +12.8% | N10.50 | Banking |
| 6 | Oando Plc | +11.3% | N105.00 | Oil & Gas |
| 7 | Julius Berger | +10.9% | N125.00 | Construction |
| 8 | United Capital | +9.5% | N34.50 | Financial Services |
| 9 | FCMB Group | +8.7% | N12.10 | Banking |
| 10 | Dangote Sugar | +7.6% | N112.00 | Consumer Goods |
Key Market Drivers: What Fueled the Rally?
1. The BUA Foods Powerhouse
BUA Foods emerged as the star performer of the week. Its 23.4% surge follows the release of its 2025 audited results, which showed a record-breaking N405 billion profit. Investors are aggressively pricing in the company’s massive capacity expansion in its pasta and sugar divisions, which is expected to yield even higher margins in 2026.
2. Banking Sector Resurgence
Access Holdings and Wema Bank led the financial sector’s gains. The market responded positively to the finalization of recapitalization plans across the industry. Access Holdings, in particular, benefited from renewed investor confidence following its strategic presence at international trade forums, positioning itself as a key facilitator of Africa-Europe trade.
3. Hospitality and Energy Momentum
Transcorp Hotels saw double-digit growth as occupancy rates across its Abuja and Lagos properties hit record highs for Q1. Meanwhile, Oando Plc continues to ride the wave of higher global oil prices (Brent crude at $82+) and the successful integration of its recently acquired upstream assets.
Sectoral Performance Overview
- Consumer Goods Index: The best-performing sector index, up 4.2% for the week, primarily driven by BUA Foods and Guinness.
- Banking Index: Gained 2.8%, reflecting the successful navigation of the central bank’s new capital requirements.
- Industrial Index: Remained relatively flat as investors rotated capital out of heavy industrials into high-yield consumer and financial stocks.
The 200,000 point mark
While the crossing of the 200,000-point mark is a cause for celebration, analysts are advising a “cautiously optimistic” approach. With the market currently in “overbought” territory, profit-taking is expected in the coming week.
Investors are encouraged to focus on “Value” stocks with strong dividend yields as a buffer against potential short-term volatility.
