NSE: Winners and Losers as Tea firms Dominate

NSE (Nairobi Securities Exchange) at the end of last week, saw Limuru Tea as the top gainer, its share price rising by 19.82% to KSh 538 when trading ended Friday. Limuru Tea operates tea plantations in Kenya’s Kiambu County and is categorized on the exchange as an agricultural stock with a focus on tea growing and processing.

The NSE listed Limuru Tea, one the illiquid counters, recorded a small volume of trades, a reflection of how even minor trades can shift the price when only a few shares are available.

Limuru Tea generates revenue primarily from the cultivation and sale of green leaf tea from its Kenyan estates, which is then processed and sold into domestic and export markets.  The firm’s business model is typical for a tea plantation company, with profitability closely tied to yields and global tea pricing.

Limuru Tea made a net loss of KSh 52,511 million in 2025 from KSh 15,215 million in 2024. The counter remains thinly traded on the NSE for this small-cap tea producer.

Williamson Tea was the second weekly price gainer after Limuru Tea, its share price rising 15.58% to close the week at KSh 150.24, East African Portland Cement which was up 14.47% to KSh 91.00, Kapchorua Tea which rose 13.52% to KSh 321.25 and KenGen whose share price edged 8.55% to KSh 9.90.

NSE Top Weekly Losers

The NSE top loser of last week was Total Energies which fell 10.71% to KSh 42.95, Absa NewGold ETF which was down 9.88% to KSh 4925.00, Eveready East Africa which declined 6.31% to KSh 1.04, Longhorn Publishers which fell 5.56% to KSh 2.72 and WPP ScanGroup which fell 5.07% to KSh 2.06.

NSE Market capitalization was up by KSh 124.24billion to close the week at KSh 3,732.65 billion while NSE Equity turnover was up 14.36% to 7.38 billion. Bond turnover was up 72.69% to KSh 79.58 billion while foreign investors at the NSE were net buyers of shares worth KSh 447.57 million.

Investors at the NSE reacted to Williamson tea bouncing up to profitability from loss territory. The company demonstrated that profitability can improve even when sales decline, provided management exercises cost discipline, strengthens the balance sheet, and benefits from favourable non-operating income streams.

That said, investors should also recognize that part of the earnings improvement came from fair value gains on biological assets and finance income, which can fluctuate from year to year. Sustaining this recovery over the long term will ultimately depend on restoring production volumes and growing operating earnings rather than relying on valuation gains.

While the 2026 marks a credible turnaround year for Williamson Tea, the next phase will be proving that the recovery can be sustained through stronger core operations and improved revenue growth.

Kapchorua Tea also featured as one of the weekly gainers at the NSE as investors position to reap from the handsome dividend payout before 31^st July 2026 book closure and payment date of 2^nd September 2026.

Kapchorua Tea has now maintained an uninterrupted dividend record spanning more than 37 years, reinforcing its position as one of the NSE’s most consistent dividend-paying companies.

Kapchorua Tea Kenya Plc 2026 financials shows that its revenue fell 25.1% to KSh 1.66billion, Pre-Tax Profit up 10.5% to KSh 289.02Million, Cash and bank balances up 20.1% to KSh 809.54Million; Shareholders’ funds: up 1.1% to KSh 3.55billion and Earnings per Share up 8.7% to KSh 8.7% to KSh 12.59 and Dividend per Share of KSh 30.

NSE MARKET WATCH ON MONDAY 29th June

Today’s market painted an interesting picture.  The NSE benchmark index NASI was the only major index to close positive, suggesting that buying interest in several mid- and small-cap counters was enough to offset weakness in some of the larger stocks.

All the major indices remain between 19% and 24% higher year-to-date, confirming that the broader trend is still firmly upward.

Agricultural counters once again dominated the gainers’ list, with Eaagads and Kapchorua Tea leading the way. Their performance reflects continued investor optimism around export-oriented businesses benefiting from favourable tea prices and currency dynamics.

On the other hand, some banking names and EABL came under pressure as investors booked profits following their recent rallies. Crown Paints was the day’s biggest loser, although its decline was largely expected after the stock began trading ex-dividend following the lapse of its book closure date.

The banking sector continues to be the market’s biggest story. Equity Bank reached yet another 52-week high while recording over KSh 2 billion in turnover, making it the most actively traded counter of the day. I&M Holdings also climbed to a fresh 52-week high of KSh 69.75, reinforcing the view that institutional investors remain confident in Kenya’s banking sector.

That confidence was further strengthened by the appointment of Abdi Mohammed as CEO of I&M Bank Kenya. His experience and track record are expected to provide additional strategic depth to the institution.