How do I choose between low-priced and high-priced stocks on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NGX)?

Good questions—this is exactly where many new investors get confused. Let’s break it down cleanly.
1. ₦4.56 vs ₦145 — which one is “better”?
Short answer: share price alone tells you almost nothing about value.
What actually matters is market capitalization:
Market Cap = Share Price × Total Number of Shares
Example:
Company A: ₦4.56 per share × 10 billion shares = ₦45.6 billion
Company B: ₦145 per share × 200 million shares = ₦29 billion
👉 Even though ₦145 looks “bigger”, Company A is actually more valuable.
So how should a layman decide?
Instead of price, focus on these 4 key fundamentals:
1. Earnings (Profitability)
Is the company making consistent profit?
Check EPS (Earnings Per Share)
2. Dividend History
Does it pay regularly?
Example in Nigeria: banks like GTCO or Zenith Bank are known for consistency.
3. Growth Potential
Is the business expanding?
Future matters more than current price
4. Valuation Ratios
P/E Ratio (Price ÷ Earnings)
Low P/E ≠ always cheap
High P/E ≠ always expensive
Important Truth:
₦4 stock can be overpriced
₦145 stock can be undervalued
So: 👉 Cheap price ≠ cheap company
👉 Expensive price ≠ expensive company
When two companies are in the same sector
Compare:
Profit margins
Debt levels
Dividend yield
Management quality
Example: Two banks may look similar, but one could be:
More efficient
Less risky
Paying better dividends
Should you buy cheaper or higher priced?
Neither. Buy based on:
✔ Strong fundamentals
✔ Consistent earnings
✔ Long-term growth
If your goal is wealth building, focus on:
Quality companies
Long-term holding
Reinvesting dividends
2. If your shares cannot be found in CSCS
Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) is the official record keeper in Nigeria.
If they cannot find your shares, it usually means one of these:
Possible Reasons
1. Shares were never dematerialized
Old physical share certificates not converted to electronic form
2. Wrong or multiple CSCS accounts
You may have:
Different stockbrokers
Different CSCS numbers
3. Registrar still holds the shares
Some shares are with company registrars, not yet in CSCS
4. Name mismatch / spelling errors
Very common in Nigeria
E.g. “Jeremiah Ochoyoda” vs “J. Ochoyoda”
5. Shares sold or transferred unknowingly
Through a broker or mandate
What you should do immediately
Contact your stockbroker
Request your CSCS statement
Contact the company registrar
Check for:
Old certificates
Previous brokers
Do a share reconciliation
Red flag situation
If:
No broker has record
CSCS has no record
Registrar has no record
👉 Then something is seriously wrong (possible loss, wrong identity, or unclaimed estate issue)
Final clarity
Don’t judge stocks by price — judge by business strength
A ₦4 stock can destroy wealth
A ₦145 stock can build wealth