Profits up, home loans down. Why NAB shares are getting smashed on Monday

Investors are pulling out of NAB shares on Monday. Let's see why.

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National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) shares are taking a tumble today.

Shares in the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) bank stock closed on Friday trading for $41.37. In morning trade on Monday, shares are changing hands for $39.65 apiece, down 4.2%.

For some context, the ASX 200 is down 0.4% at this same time.

This follows the release of NAB's June quarter trading update (Q3 FY 2026).

Here's what's catching investor interest.

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Image source: Getty Images

NAB shares pressured by home loan decline

There's a lot to like about NAB's three-month performance over the third quarter.

Highlights include a 2% increase in revenue on the quarterly average from what the big four bank achieved in the first half of FY 2026.

And cash earnings of $1.83 billion were also up 2% from the first-half quarterly average, excluding large notable items.

And on the bottom line, the ASX 200 bank stock reported a 32% increase in net profit to $1.81 billion.

The bank also improved its Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio to 11.93%.

But NAB shares could be facing some headwinds, with operating expenses, excluding large notable items, up 4% in the June quarter. And the bank's net interest margin (NIM) decreased from 1.81% to 1.79%.

However, the biggest concern that looks to be pressuring NAB shares today is the decline in its crucial home lending market.

"The combined impacts of the Middle East conflict, higher domestic interest rates and recent tax changes in the Federal Budget are creating challenges and uncertainties for our customers," NAB CEO Andrew Irvine said.

Irvine noted:

While the ratio of non-performing loans declined over 3Q26, watch loans were higher reflecting current and potential stress impacting performing customers. Business credit growth has remained robust at this stage, but the Australian home lending market softened in 3Q26 with our applications down 15% compared with 2Q26.

Higher interest rates and changes to negative gearing and capital gains taxes in the Federal Budget also have led to materially lower home loan demand at the other big four banks.

In recent results, home loan applications at ANZ Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: ANZ) were down 12%, applications at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) were down 15%, while home loan demand at Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) had slumped 20%.

What else did management say?

Commenting on the results that have yet to lift NAB shares today, Irvine added:

Underlying profit was stable over the period with good volume growth and well managed margins offset by higher costs which were impacted by seasonality and the flow-on impacts of changes to our software capitalisation policy in 1H26.

We have made further progress this quarter across our key priorities of growing business banking, driving deposit growth and strengthening proprietary home lending. Australian business lending rose 2% including 4% growth from Business & Private Banking (B&PB).

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 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.

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