Up 20% in 4 months, where's next for the CBA share price?

Have CBA shares finally hit their limits?

| More on:
A man looking at his laptop and thinking.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price has just seemed to go from strength to strength over the past few months.

We only have to rewind to the end of October to see CBA shares going for just $96 each. But today, those same shares are asking $115.71 at the time of writing (up 0.72% for the day so far).

Not only is that more than 20% above the price CBA was just four months ago, but it's also just a couple of dollars short of this ASX 200 bank stock's all-time high of $118.24.

So it goes without saying that it's been a great few months to own the ASX's largest bank.

But with CBA shares recording such an enthusiastic rise over such a short space of time, many investors might be wondering what could be next for this popular ASX dividend stock.

After all, these gains have pushed CBA's trailing dividend yield significantly below the other big four banks. Right now, CBA's yield of 3.93% (fully franked of course) looks distinctly un-banklike, considering ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ), for example, is offering investors 6.13% today.

What's next for the CBA share price? Goldman says sell

It may be upsetting for CBA shareholders to learn that most ASX brokers are fairly united in the view that CBA shares are currently overvalued.

How much so? Well, consider what ASX broker Goldman Sachs said earlier this month.

As my Fool colleague covered at the time, Goldman likes what it saw in CBA's latest earnings report, which we covered here. This also went down well with the market.

However, Goldman also stated that "we do not think this justifies the 55% 12-month forward PPOP [pre-provision operating profit] premium CBA is currently trading on versus peers (ex-dividend adjusted)".

Goldman pointed out that CBA shares have almost always traded at a premium to their peers. But it also noted that the average premium over the past 15 years has been around 29%, as opposed to the current 55%.

Goldman also reckons CBA's annual dividends will stay relatively flat at $4.55 per share until the end of the 2026 financial year.

That's the primary reason why Goldman has a sell rating, as well as a 12-month share price target of just $81.98 per share for CBA. If this proves accurate, investors could lose approximately 30% from the current share price over the coming 12 months.

A final caveat though. ASX brokers like Goldman have been bearish on CBA shares for a long time now. And yet this has done nothing to stop the bank from clocking new record highs, and investors from banking significant gains, in recent months.

So who knows where the CBA share price will head next.

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Goldman Sachs Group. 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.

More on Bank Shares

Nervous customer in discussions at a bank.
Bank Shares

What should you do with your CBA shares in 2026?

The business is still excellent, but the valuation leaves much less room for upside.

Read more »

Four businessmen in suits pose together in a martial arts style pose as if ready to engage in competition or spring into a fight.
Bank Shares

What happened with the big four ASX 200 bank stocks like ANZ and CBA shares in January?

Buying ANZ, NAB, Westpac or CBA shares? Here’s what happened in the month just past.

Read more »

Worried woman calculating domestic bills.
Bank Shares

Where will CBA shares be in 5 years?

CBA's next five years could be quite different to its last five...

Read more »

Small girl giving a fist bump with a piggy bank in front of her.
Bank Shares

Buying Westpac shares today? Here's the dividend yield you'll get

Westpac has a reputation as one of the ASX's most reliable providers of fat, fully franked dividends.

Read more »

A young girl looks up and balances a pencil on her nose, while thinking about a decision she has to make.
Opinions

Should I sell my CBA shares in 2026?

What's next for the banking giant this year?

Read more »

Worried woman calculating domestic bills.
Bank Shares

Big news is making Bank of Queensland shares fall today

There has been some big news out of this bank today.

Read more »

Time to sell ASX 200 shares written on a clock.
Bank Shares

Sell alert! Why this analyst is calling time on ANZ shares

A leading analyst foresees headwinds ahead for ANZ shares. But why?

Read more »

A toy house sits on a pile of Australian $100 notes.
Dividend Investing

Buying NAB shares? Here's the dividend yield you'll get today

NAB's current dividend yield might surprise you.

Read more »