Data reflects the U.S. ADR close on November 25 and the latest information available on November 26, 2025.
SMFG stock today: price snapshot in New York and Tokyo
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG), one of Japan’s three megabanks, continues to trade near multi‑year highs as investors digest strong earnings, a major buyback, and a richer dividend for FY3/2026.
NYSE‑listed ADR (ticker: SMFG)
- Last price: around $17.40, up about $0.25 (+1.5%) on the latest U.S. session. [1]
- Day’s range: roughly $17.16–$17.41. [2]
- 52‑week range:$11.83–$17.58, putting the ADR about 1% below its 52‑week high and 47% above the April low as of this morning. [3]
- Valuation (ADR basis): trailing P/E ~23–25x, forward P/E ~11x, with a market capitalization near $110 billion and trailing revenue around $23 billion. [4]
Tokyo‑listed shares (TSE: 8316)
- Last TSE close:¥4,457 on November 25. [5]
- ADR signal for today’s Tokyo session: Japan’s market site Kabutan calculates the SMFG ADR close at $17.40, equivalent to about ¥4,525, ¥68 (+1.55%) above Tuesday’s TSE close, suggesting a positive bias for today’s cash session if overseas gains carry through. [6]
- Dividend yield: domestic investors are looking at a dividend yield around 3.2–3.5% based on SMFG’s raised FY3/2026 dividend forecast and current share price. [7]
Year‑to‑date, SMFG has significantly outperformed broader Japanese equity benchmarks in total‑return terms, riding higher net interest margins, robust fee income and optimism around Japan’s banking sector re‑rating. [8]
Fresh November 26 headlines: SMFG in the spotlight as a “top high-dividend stock”
1. Diamond ZAi singles out SMFG as a “strong high‑dividend” blue chip
A new feature in Japanese investor magazine Diamond ZAi, published November 26, highlights just two “strongest high‑dividend stocks” with market cap above ¥1 trillion and yields above 3% – Toyota Motor and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. [9]
From the SMFG perspective, the article stresses that:
- SMFG is “continuously updating record profits”, as higher lending income and asset management fees boost earnings. [10]
- The group is strengthening shareholder returns through rising dividends – with five consecutive years of dividend increases now projected. [11]
- Despite share prices trading near historical highs, the stock is described as not excessively expensive at around 12x earnings on the domestic listing, given its earnings momentum and franchise quality. [12]
The piece effectively frames SMFG as a core long‑term income stock: a megabank with solid profitability, a multi‑year dividend‑growth record, and a still‑reasonable multiple compared with its earnings trajectory.
2. ADR data this morning confirms strength after Wall Street rally
A separate Kabutan ADR wrap published at 07:50 JST on November 26 shows SMFG’s New York–listed ADR closing at $17.40, translating to ¥4,526 at the reference FX rate. That is ¥69 (+1.55%) above the last TSE close, grouping SMFG alongside other rising megabank ADRs such as Mitsubishi UFJ and Mizuho. [13]
Kabutan’s broader U.S. market commentary, also dated November 26, notes that U.S. equities extended their rally on hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut later this year. Japanese ADRs, including SMFG, generally traded firmer in this environment, providing a supportive lead for Tokyo financials. [14]
3. New USD subordinated bond highlighted today
A Japanese securities house product page dated November 26 features a new U.S. dollar‑denominated subordinated bond issued by SMFG, with a coupon of 5.836% and subordinated terms typical of regulatory capital instruments. [15]
While full transaction details are not visible in all jurisdictions, the offer underscores how SMFG is:
- Actively managing its capital structure, tapping global debt markets for Tier 2 / subordinated funding;
- Leveraging still‑elevated global rates to attract overseas fixed‑income investors while maintaining robust regulatory capital ratios. [16]
For equity holders, ongoing issuance and refinancing of subordinated debt sit alongside buybacks and dividends as part of the group’s broader capital‑policy toolkit.
November catalysts behind today’s move: earnings beat, forecast hike and buyback
Beneath today’s headlines, November has already delivered several major price‑moving announcements for SMFG.
Earnings: sharp profit growth and upgraded guidance
On November 14, SMFG released results for the first half of FY3/2026 (April–September 2025):
- Consolidated net income:¥933.5 billion, up 28.7% year‑on‑year. [17]
- Q2 (July–September) net income:¥556.6 billion, surging 57.3% versus the same quarter last year. [18]
- Revenue growth was driven by higher loan volumes and stronger investment and market‑related income, according to Japanese financial media summaries. [19]
The bank simultaneously raised its full‑year guidance:
- Full‑year net income forecast lifted from ¥1.3 trillion to ¥1.5 trillion, a 15.4% upward revision, implying about 27% year‑on‑year profit growth and extending SMFG’s run of record‑profit projections. [20]
Foreign‑currency data compiled by MarketBeat translate this into:
- Q2 EPS of about $0.59 versus a consensus of $0.40,
- Revenue around $8.15 billion, beating expectations of roughly $7.41 billion. [21]
In short, November’s earnings release confirmed that SMFG’s profit recovery is both strong and above market expectations.
Dividend: 5th straight increase and higher full-year payout
Reflecting the upbeat results, SMFG also raised its dividend plan:
- Annual dividend per share for FY3/2026 was increased from ¥136 to ¥157, a +¥21 hike. [22]
- Based on current prices around ¥4,500, this implies a forward dividend yield in the low‑to‑mid 3% range on the Tokyo listing, aligning with the 3.2–3.5% figures cited by domestic sources. [23]
This marks five consecutive fiscal years of dividend increases, a point emphasized in November 26 Japanese coverage and one reason SMFG is now regularly appearing in “high‑dividend” screens. [24]
Buyback: up to 50 million shares, ¥150 billion
On top of the higher payout, SMFG has also launched a substantial share repurchase program. A November 17 analysis by Simply Wall St summarizes management’s newly announced plan: [25]
- Buyback size: up to 50 million shares, equivalent to about 1.3% of issued shares.
- Total amount: up to ¥150 billion.
- Dividend details: interim dividend increased to ¥78 per share, with a year‑end dividend forecast of ¥79, matching the new ¥157 full‑year total.
According to that analysis, the stock had risen roughly 7.8% in the days following the buyback and dividend announcement, underlining how aggressively shareholders have rewarded the improved capital‑return story. [26]
How analysts are framing SMFG after the rally
Bank of America: Buy rating and 4,700-yen target
In a recent report highlighted by TipRanks, Bank of America Securities analyst Shinichiro Nakamura reiterated a “Buy” rating on SMFG with a price target of ¥4,700 – modestly above current Tokyo levels. [27]
Key points from BofA’s view:
- SMFG is targeting a 12% return on equity (ROE) by FY3/2029, aiming to match or exceed the profitability of global peers. [28]
- The bank’s strategy rests on:
- Improved profitability in global operations,
- Selective M&A, particularly in fast‑growing Asian markets,
- Reducing low‑return risk‑weighted assets to free capital. [29]
- Capital policy under the next medium‑term plan is expected to balance higher shareholder returns with a solid CET1 capital ratio, supporting both growth and resilience. [30]
Valuation debate: premium P/E, but “undervalued” on cash flow
Fundamental research platform Simply Wall St has published two November pieces focusing on SMFG’s valuation: [31]
- At a Tokyo price of about ¥4,449, SMFG’s P/E ratio is ~24.9x, notably above:
- direct peers at roughly 14.6x, and
- the broader Japanese banking sector around 10.8x.
- On that simple P/E comparison, the stock looks expensive relative to other banks.
- However, the same analysis suggests SMFG is undervalued on a discounted cash flow (DCF) basis, arguing that ¥4,449 is roughly 40% below its modelled fair value (around ¥7,300).
Taken together with the ADR metrics (trailing P/E in the low‑to‑mid 20s, forward P/E around 11), the picture is:
- The market is clearly paying a premium for SMFG versus most Japanese banks,
- But some fundamental analysts still see upside left if earnings and ROE targets are achieved. [32]
Strategic backdrop: digital, overseas expansion and regulatory tailwinds
Stablecoin initiative with Japan’s other megabanks
On November 7, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) announced support for a joint stablecoin proof‑of‑concept by the country’s three largest banks: Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) and Mizuho. [33]
According to CoinDesk, the project will:
- Explore the joint issuance of a stablecoin as an electronic payment instrument,
- Run as an FSA‑supported experiment “for the foreseeable future,” reflecting regulators’ interest in marrying large banks’ balance sheets with tokenized payment rails. [34]
While still at the pilot stage, this initiative positions SMFG as a front‑line participant in Japan’s regulated digital‑asset infrastructure, potentially opening new fee and service lines over time.
Agentic AI venture in Singapore
Earlier this year, SMFG announced a new AI‑focused venture in Singapore, led by former Microsoft Asia executive Ahmed Mazhari. [35]
Key elements:
- Backed by a ¥800 billion digital investment plan, with ¥50 billion earmarked specifically for generative AI. [36]
- The venture will build enterprise‑grade “agentic AI” systems that can autonomously learn, reason and act in complex business environments, with SMBC Group as “customer zero” before expanding to external clients. [37]
For investors, this underscores SMFG’s ambition to move beyond traditional banking into AI‑driven financial services and software‑like revenue streams.
India push: strategic stake in Yes Bank
SMFG’s international aspirations also include India, where its core banking arm Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has agreed to acquire a 20% stake in Yes Bank for about $1.58 billion, becoming its largest shareholder once regulatory approvals are complete. [38]
Credit‑rating agency Fitch has described this as:
- The first significant bank acquisition in India by a foreign player,
- A deal that could pave the way for more foreign participation in mid‑sized Indian banks, assuming the precedent is well received by regulators. [39]
For SMFG, the Yes Bank investment expands its Asia growth platform, particularly in a high‑growth economy projected to see real GDP growth above 6% into FY27. [40]
What today’s setup means for SMFG investors
Pulling the threads together for November 26, 2025:
- Price action: SMFG’s ADR closed around $17.40, near its 52‑week high of $17.58, while implied yen pricing suggests a strong positive lead for today’s Tokyo session. [41]
- Momentum: The stock is up about 47% from its April low, buoyed by earnings beats, forecast upgrades, dividend hikes and a sizeable buyback. [42]
- Income story: Domestic media now routinely cite SMFG as a flagship high‑dividend name, with five straight years of dividend increases and a 3%+ yield at today’s levels. [43]
- Growth and strategy: The bank is coupling its domestic lending and fee franchise with digital initiatives (AI, stablecoins) and overseas expansion, notably into India, to sustain profit growth and ROE improvements. [44]
- Valuation and risk:
Investors watching SMFG today will be weighing three main questions:
- How sustainable is the current profit surge in a world where rates may eventually drift down?
- Can the bank hit its mid‑term ROE and digital‑transformation goals without sacrificing balance‑sheet quality?
- Is the current valuation justified, or already discounting much of the good news on earnings, dividends and buybacks?
References
1. stockanalysis.com, 2. www.indmoney.com, 3. www.indmoney.com, 4. stockanalysis.com, 5. www.investing.com, 6. kabutan.jp, 7. kabutan.jp, 8. finance.yahoo.com, 9. diamond.jp, 10. diamond.jp, 11. diamond.jp, 12. diamond.jp, 13. kabutan.jp, 14. kabutan.jp, 15. www.jtg-sec.co.jp, 16. www.smfg.co.jp, 17. kabutan.jp, 18. kabutan.jp, 19. kabutan.jp, 20. kabutan.jp, 21. www.marketbeat.com, 22. kabutan.jp, 23. kabutan.jp, 24. diamond.jp, 25. simplywall.st, 26. simplywall.st, 27. www.tipranks.com, 28. www.tipranks.com, 29. www.tipranks.com, 30. www.tipranks.com, 31. simplywall.st, 32. stockanalysis.com, 33. www.coindesk.com, 34. www.coindesk.com, 35. fintechnews.sg, 36. fintechnews.sg, 37. fintechnews.sg, 38. gfmag.com, 39. m.economictimes.com, 40. m.economictimes.com, 41. kabutan.jp, 42. kabutan.jp, 43. diamond.jp, 44. fintechnews.sg, 45. simplywall.st, 46. www.tipranks.com
