Who Owns Barclays Shares? Top 10 Shareholders
Barclays’ largest shareholders have played a crucial role in the international success of the bank. To explain that role, this article will review the history of Barclays, including the involvement of its shareholders. To give insight into those shareholders, the article provides a Barclays shareholders list with the 10 largest institutional investors.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Barclays is a multinational universal bank with current annual revenue of around 25 billion GBP
- Barclays provides services such as wealth and investment management, lending, and mortgages.
- The bank currently has about 14.7 billion outstanding shares.
- Barclays' major shareholders have considerable influence when it comes to decisions regarding topics such as expansion and the handling of financial crises.
Barclays Ownership History
The origin of Barclays dates back to 1690, when two goldsmith bankers, John Freame and Thomas Gould, started trading in London. Freame’s son-in-law, James Barclay, was taken on as a partner in 1736 and that is how the bank got its name. The bank offered services such as the safekeeping of valuables, providing loans and issuing banknotes.
The banking services of Barclays gradually expanded between the 1700s and 1900s. Barclays grew significantly, especially after merging with several smaller banks in 1896 and with London Provincial and South Western Bank in 1918. In 1967 Barclays introduced the world's first ATM, located in London.
Barclays was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1987. The capital that followed the IPO, allowed the bank to expand and diversify services further. International investors followed when the company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 1986. This did not only attract investors but also paved the way to expand internationally and become a major player in the global financial market.
Shareholders of the company include individual investors and employees, but Barclays' major shareholders are institutional investors, mainly asset management firms and pension funds. As they hold big percentages of shares, they have considerable influence when it comes to decisions regarding topics such as expansion and financial crises.
Barclays is dual-listed with shares on the London Stock Exchange (BARC) and the New York Stock Exchange (BCS).
Top 10 Shareholders of Barclays Stock
Below you will find a list of the top 10 Barclays largest shareholders and how much they each hold.
1. Vanguard Group
One of the world’s largest asset management companies, Vanguard Group, is Barclays’ biggest shareholder. This company was founded in 1975 by John C. Bogle and is known for its low-cost index funds. Vanguard is owned by its shareholders with a mutual company structure. It offers investment products such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds and retirement planning. Vanguard Group currently holds 528,620,968 Barclays shares, which is 3.566% of the total stock and valued at £1.396 billion.
2. Credit Suisse Asset Management
The history of Credit Suisse Asset Management dates back to the foundation of the Credit Suisse bank in 1856. It offers a wide range of investment solutions for both institutional and individual investors worldwide. Credit Suisse Asset Management is mostly known for alternative investments, such as real estate and hedge funds. This Asset Management company currently holds 471,688,262 Barclays shares, which is 3.182% of the total stock and valued atf1.246 billion.
3. Solium Capital UK Ltd
Originally a Canadian company, Solium Capital has been part of Shareworks by Morgan Stanley since 1999. Solium Capital UK Ltd is known for the user-friendly interface of the platform and for using advanced technology and powerful analytical tools. This allows them to offer expert service on equity compensation management solutions, primarily for corporate clients. Solium Capital UK Ltd currently holds 453,428,000 Barclays shares, which is 3.058% of the total stock and valued at £1.197 billion.
4. Dodge & Cox
Founded in 1931 in the United States, Dodge & Cox is known for its research-driven strategies, specializing in investment products such as institutional portfolio management, global stock funds and balanced funds. While maintaining a diversified portfolio, they aim to identify securities that are currently undervalued but have the potential to gain appreciation in the long term. The company has a strong reputation among institutional and individual investors, due to their transparency. Dodge & Cox currently holds 444,294,402 Barclays shares, which is 2.997% of the total stock and valued at £1.173 billion.
5. BlackRock Fund Advisors
BlackRock, Inc., founded in 1988, became the largest asset management company worldwide after it acquired Barclays Global Investors in 2009. BlackRock Fund Advisors is a division within this company and manages investment funds, such as equity, multi-asset strategies and fixed income. With a wide range of ETFs, index funds and others, BlackRock Fund Advisors is known for passive investment management. The company currently holds 421,575,018 Barclays shares, which is 2.844% of the total stock and valued at £1.113 billion.
6. Qatar Investment Authority
To strengthen and diversify the economy of Qatar, the Qatar Investment Authority was founded in 2005. It is a global investment organization with investments in asset classes such as fixed income, real estate, infrastructure and equities. The company is known for doing proper research and analysis, as well as for being flexible and discrete to adapt to market conditions and opportunities. Qatar Investment Authority currently holds 420,120,691 Barclays shares, which is 2.834% of the total stock and valued at £1.109 billion.
7. Causeway Capital Management
Causeway Capital Management was founded in 2001 in the United States as an investment management firm, focusing on equity management and fixed-income portfolios. Investment products include mutual funds, global equities and separate accounts. With quantitative and qualitative research, the firm aims to make the best long-term investment decisions for its clients. Causeway Capital Management currently holds 270,549,276 Barclays shares, which is 1.825% of the total stock and valued at £714 million.
8. Invesco Asset Management
The major asset management company, Invesco Asset Management, was founded in the United States in 1935. With extensive research, advanced analytics and active management, the firm offers investment solutions such as equity, fixed income, multi-asset strategies and real estate investments. In 2019, Invesco acquired OppenheimerFunds, which led to a much bigger number of clients worldwide. Invesco Asset Management currently holds 265,057,591 Barclays shares, which is 1.788% of the total stock and valued at £700 million.
9. Upper Chance Group
Within the financial services and asset management sector, Upper Chance Group is relatively less known. The company is registered in Hong Kong and operates as an investment management company. Upper Chance Group currently holds 248,873,000 Barclays shares, which is 1.679% of the total stock and valued at £657 million.
10. Legal & General Investment Management
One of the biggest asset management companies in the UK is Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM). Since its inception in 1836 in London, it has gained prominence in the global investment management industry. LGIM investment solutions include equities, real estate and ETFs, but is best known for managing retirement assets and pension funds. LGIM currently holds 242,557,809 Barclays shares, which is 1.636% of the total stock and valued at £641 million.
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Conclusion
The shareholders of Barclays have played an important part in the trajectory of the bank since its IPO in 1987, especially when it comes to its established international position. Barclays’ biggest shareholders have substantial influence, for example, when it comes to decisions regarding topics such as global expansion and the 2008 financial crisis. The top 10 biggest shareholders currently hold 25.6% of Barclays shares. The asset management firm Vanguard Group is Barclays' largest shareholder, owning 3.566% of the total stock.
Barclays is an established brand and has a strong position in the global financial market. Some investors are confident in Barclays’ stocks due to factors such as its international presence, its strong online platform, their focus on technological innovation and a history of consistent dividend payments. Others may point out risks such as the economy of the United Kingdom, the consequences of Brexit, regulatory scrutiny, and possible currency fluctuations.
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FAQs on Barclays Shareholders
Who are the major shareholders of Barclays Bank?
Barclays major shareholders are Vanguard Group, Credit Suisse Asset Management, Solium Capital UK Ltd, Dodge & Cox, BlackRock Fund Advisors, Qatar Investment Authority, Causeway Capital Management, Invesco Asset Management, Upper Chance Group and Legal & General Investment Management.
When did BlackRock buy Barclays?
Barclays Global Investors was acquired by BlackRock in June 2009.
Who is the largest shareholder of the bank?
The largest shareholder of Barclays is Vanguard Group.
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