A share buyback, increased dividend and higher returns make the buy-to-let lender a standout performer in the banking sector, writes Julian Hofmann. Paragon Banking Group handed out Christmas goodies in its full-year results with a £50mn share buyback, a 30 per cent dividend increase and a net interest margin of 3.09 per cent that came in well ahead of what anyone had forecast. Investors took the cue to bid up the shares on the day by 8 per cent, which represented their best individual performance for the year.

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