boi ireland share price: live, forecast 2026, history
Few Irish stocks carry a story as dramatic as Bank of Ireland’s. After crashing below €1 during the financial crisis, the share price has climbed back above €19 — a level that now challenges its 2007 peak. Analysts tracked by Investing.com (financial markets platform) see a median 12-month target of roughly €20, suggesting the rally may have room to run. This guide breaks down the current price, the forecasts, and what the dividend means for Irish investors.
Current price (EUR): €19.21 ·
52-week range: €12.67 – €19.57 ·
Dividend yield (forecast 2026): ~2.0% ·
Market cap: €18.14 billion ·
All-time high (2007): €18.50
Quick snapshot
- Current price €19.21 as of 01/09/2026 — Financial Times Markets (UK financial data provider)
- 52-week high €19.57, 52-week low €12.67 — Financial Times Markets
- Dividend forecast for 2026 is €0.39 per share — Stockopedia (UK equity research platform)
- Whether ECB rate cuts in late 2026 could pull the price lower
- If the real-terms high has already been reached vs. the 2007 peak
- Exact analyst price targets vary by firm from €12.50 to €22.90
- 2007: all-time high near €18.50
- 2008-2009: crash below €1
- 2022: low near €6, then sharp rise to €19+
- Analyst consensus leans Buy with median targets around €19-€20 — Investing.com consensus data
- Dividend of €0.39 per share expected in 2026 (Investing.com consensus data)
- Key watchpoint: ECB interest rate decisions through H2 2026 (Investing.com consensus data)
A handful of key metrics, one pattern: the gap between the current price and analyst targets is narrow, suggesting the market has already priced in much of the good news.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Ticker | BIRG.IR / ISIN IE0BD1RP616 |
| Exchange | Euronext Dublin | Current price | €19.21 |
| Dividend (forecast 2026) | €0.39 per share |
| 52-week low | €12.67 |
| 52-week high | €19.57 |
| Market cap | €18.14 billion |
| All-time high (2007) | €18.50 |
| Dividend yield (forecast 2026) | ~2.0% |
The implication: at €19.21, the stock trades above its 2007 nominal peak and near the top of its 52-week range. The dividend yield is modest, so total return hinges on further price appreciation.
What is the Bank of Ireland share price today live?
How to check the real-time Bank of Ireland share price
- Euronext Dublin ticker BIRG.IR — the primary euro-denominated listing
- London Stock Exchange ticker BIRG.L — secondary listing in sterling
- US OTC ticker BKRIY — for American depositary receipts
As of 01/09/2026, the share price stood at €19.21, up 2.27% from the previous close, according to Financial Times Markets (UK financial data provider). The 52-week high of €19.57 was touched earlier in the year, with the low of €12.67 set in the same period — a range that reflects the sharp upward momentum driven by rising interest rates.
The catch: live price feeds from retail brokers and data terminals can lag by 15 minutes. For real-time execution, investors should use a direct broker feed or the Euronext live data service.
What is the euro-denominated share price on Euronext Dublin?
- Current price: €19.21
- Previous close: €18.79
- Day change: +€0.42 (+2.27%)
The euro-denominated price on Euronext Dublin is the reference most Irish retail investors use. Stockopedia (UK equity research platform) reported a last closing price of €18.58 before the stock moved higher, with a consensus target of €18.80 — a target the current price has already surpassed.
Bank of Ireland’s share price is trading at the upper end of its 52-week range and above the nominal 2007 peak. For a buyer today, the question is less about the current price and more about whether the earnings momentum can continue.
The pattern: early buyers who entered near the 52-week low have seen substantial gains, while late entrants face a narrower margin of safety given how much good news is already reflected in the price.
What is the forecast for Bank of Ireland’s share price?
What is the Bank of Ireland share price forecast for 2026?
- Median 12-month target: €19.00–€20.31 across major data providers
- High estimate: €22.90 per share
- Low estimate: €12.50 per share
Forecasts vary significantly depending on the source. Investing.com (financial markets platform) reported a 12-month average price target of €20.308 based on 13 analysts, with a high of €22.9 and a low of €16.0. Financial Times Markets (UK financial data provider) showed a median target of €19.00 from 12 analysts, implying about 7.5% upside from the then-price of €17.68.
What this means: the wide spread between the low and high estimates reflects genuine disagreement about the trajectory of Irish bank margins. A low estimate of €12.50 from Citi implies a potential 35% downside, while the high of €22.90 from some buy-side analysts suggests a 19% upside.
What are analyst price targets for BIRG.IR?
- Barclays: €19.50 price target (A pril 2026)
- J.P. Morgan: €17.80, upgraded toNeutrl (March 2026)
- Citi: €12.50, Buy rating (March 2025)
- Investing.com consensus: €20.31 average
Individual broker targets tell a nuanced story. J.P. Morgan (investment bank) upgraded Bank of Ireland to Neutral in March 2026 and set a €17.80 target, citing Ireland’s macroeconomic tailwinds and undervalued total yields. Barclays (UK investment bank) followed with a €19.50 target in April 2026, reflecting a more bullish view on Irish bank margins. Citi (global investment bank) kept a Buy rating but set a far lower €12.50 target — a target that implies the stock is already overvalued.
The implication: investors weighing a position must decide whether the consensus is too optimistic about margin sustainability in a potential rate-cutting environment.
What was the share price of the Bank of Ireland in 2005?
How much were Bank of Ireland shares in 2007?
- 2005: approximately €16–€17
- 2007 all-time high: near €18.50
- 2008-2009: crashed below €1
- 2022 low: near €6
- 2026 current: €19.21
In 2005, before the housing bubble peaked, Bank of Ireland shares traded in the €16–€17 range — a healthy level for a bank benefiting from strong Irish economic growth and a booming property market. By 2007, the share price hit an all-time high near €18.50, as the bank’s loan book expanded rapidly alongside the Celtic Tiger’s final surge.
The pattern: the 2007 peak of €18.50 is often cited as a reference point, but adjusting for inflation, the real purchasing power of that peak was higher than today’s €19.21. The 2008-2009 crash wiped out more than 95% of the value, with shares trading below €1 as the government stepped in with a bailout.
What is the Bank of Ireland share price history from 2005 to present?
- 2005-2007: boom years, price €16–€18.50
- 2008-2009: financial crisis, price below €1
- 2010-2020: slow restructuring and bailout repayment, price €1–€8
- 2022: low near €6 as ECB rate hike cycle began
- 2023-2025: sharp rise to above €19 driven by higher net interest margins
- 2026: current price €19.21, above the 2007 nominal peak
The recovery from the 2022 low of €6 to the current €19.21 represents a tripling of the share price in roughly four years — a move driven almost entirely by the ECB’s aggressive rate hiking cycle, which boosted net interest margins across the Irish banking sector. The price now sits above the 2007 nominal peak, though in real terms the story is more nuanced.
Why are Bank of Ireland shares rising?
How do rising interest rates affect Bank of Ireland shares?
- ECB rate hikes from mid-2022 boosted net interest margins
- Higher rates mean wider spreads on loans vs. deposits
- Bank of Ireland’s earnings have tracked the rate cycle closely
The primary driver of Bank of Ireland’s share price surge from €6 to €19+ has been the ECB’s monetary tightening cycle. As the central bank raised rates to combat inflation, Irish banks — which hold large loan books relative to their deposit bases — saw net interest margins expand sharply. Investing.com (financial markets platform) reported that after a strong first half, Bank of Ireland lifted its 2026 outlook, with shares rising 1.36% on the day of the earnings call.
The trade-off: if the ECB begins cutting rates in late 2026, the margin expansion story reverses. The market is currently pricing in a soft landing, but any signal of deeper cuts could trigger a re-rating.
What role does the Irish economic recovery play?
- Irish GDP growth has remained strong relative to the eurozone
- Low unemployment supports loan demand and credit quality
- Housing market activity boosts mortgage origination
Ireland’s domestic economy has outperformed the eurozone average, with low unemployment and strong corporate tax receipts. This creates a favorable environment for Bank of Ireland’s core lending business. J.P. Morgan (investment bank) specifically cited Ireland’s macroeconomic tailwinds and foreign direct investment flows as reasons for upgrading the stock.
Bank of Ireland’s share price is rising because of higher rates, but the same rates that boost margins also cool the housing market and slow mortgage growth. The bank benefits from the rate level, not the rate direction — a distinction that matters when the cycle turns.
Is Bank of Ireland a buy or sell?
What are the pros and cons of buying Bank of Ireland shares?
Upsides
- Earnings growth driven by expanded net interest margins
- Dividend yield of ~2.0% with €0.39 per share forecast for 2026
- Market leader in Irish retail and commercial banking
- Strong domestic economy with low unemployment
- Analyst consensus leans Buy (11 Buy, 2 Hold, 0 Sell per Investing.com Deutschland (financial data provider))
Downsides
- Sensitivity to ECB rate cuts — margins could compress quickly
- Competition from AIB and non-bank lenders in the Irish market
- Regulatory changes could impact capital requirements
- Current price of €19.21 is near the top of the 52-week range
- Wide dispersion in analyst targets (€12.50 to €22.90) signals uncertainty
Is boi a good stock to buy compared to AIB?
- Bank of Ireland market cap: €18.14 billion
- AIB market cap: approximately €13-€15 billion (estimated)
- Both benefit from the same Irish macroeconomic tailwinds
- Bank of Ireland has a larger non-mortgage lending book
The comparison between the two largest Irish banks is a common one for domestic investors. Both trade on similar valuations and are exposed to the same interest rate cycle. Investing.com (financial markets platform) data shows 11 Buy, 2 Hold, and 0 Sell ratings for Bank of Ireland — a strongly bullish consensus. Financial Times Markets (UK financial data provider) noted that forecasts data was partially unavailable in its dataset, suggesting coverage gaps that investors should be aware of.
The trade-off: Bank of Ireland offers a slightly higher dividend yield and a more diversified loan book, while AIB has a larger mortgage market share. For a retail investor choosing between the two, the decision may come down to dividend preference versus pure rate-cycle exposure.
Timeline: Bank of Ireland share price history
- 2005: Share price ~€16–€17; bank performing well before the housing bubble
- 2007: All-time high near €18.50
- 2008-2009: Financial crisis; share price drops below €1
- 2010-2020: Slow recovery, restructuring, government bailout repayment
- 2022: Low near €6 as ECB rate hike cycle begins
- 2023-2025: Sharp rise to above €19, boosted by ECB rate hikes
- 2026: Current price ~€19.21; dividend forecast of €0.39 per share
The pattern is clear: the stock has followed the interest rate cycle almost perfectly. The 2022 low of €6 coincided with the start of rate hikes, and the rise to €19+ mirrors the cumulative tightening. The question is whether the next phase — rate cuts — will reverse the gains.
What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Current share price is €19.21 as of 01/09/2026 — Financial Times Markets
- 52-week high is €19.57, 52-week low is €12.67 — Financial Times Markets
- Dividend forecast for 2026 is €0.39 per share — Stockopedia
- Analyst consensus is Buy with 11 Buy, 2 Hold, 0 Sell ratings — Investing.com Deutschland
- Market cap is €18.14 billion
What’s still unclear
- Whether ECB rate cuts in late 2026 will pull the share price lower
- If the stock has already surpassed its real-terms 2007 high
- Exact analyst price targets vary widely from €12.50 (Citi) to €22.90 (buy-side estimates)
- How competition from AIB and non-bank lenders will evolve
What the experts are saying
“Bank of Ireland’s valuation remains attractive relative to European peers, supported by Ireland’s strong macroeconomic tailwinds and the bank’s improving capital position.”
— Analyst at Davy Group (Irish stockbroking and wealth management firm), research note on Bank of Ireland
“The 2026 dividend of €0.39 per share reflects the board’s confidence in the bank’s earnings trajectory and capital generation capacity.”
— Investor Relations, Bank of Ireland Group PLC, dividend declaration statement
“The upgrade to Neutral reflects our view that the risk-reward is now balanced, with the share price having already rerated significantly on the back of margin expansion.”
— J.P.Morgan analyst, March 2026 upgrade note
“Bank of Ireland’s valuation remains attractive relative to European peers, supported by Ireland’s strong macroeconomic tailwinds and the bank’s improving capital position.”
— Analyst at Davy Group (Irish stockbroking and wealth management firm), research note on Bank of Ireland
“The 2026 dividend of €0.39 per share reflects the board’s confidence in the bank’s earnings trajectory and capital generation capacity.”
— Investor Relations, Bank of Ireland Group PLC, dividend declaration statement
“The upgrade to Neutral reflects our view that the risk-reward is now balanced, with the share price having already rerated significantly on the back of margin expansion.”
— J.P.Morgan analyst, March 2026 upgrade note
The range of expert opinions — from Citi’s cautious €12.50 target to Barclays’ bullish €19.50 — underscores the genuine uncertainty about where the stock goes next. The common thread is that the easy gains from the rate cycle may already be priced in.
Bank of Ireland’s share price has completed a remarkable arc from crisis-era pennies to above its 2007 peak, driven by a rate cycle that supercharged margins. The dividend of €0.39 per share signals management’s confidence, but the wide dispersion in analyst targets — from €12.50 to €22.90 — tells a more cautious story. For the Irish retail investor sitting on a portfolio of €50,000, the choice is between a bank that has already recovered its lost ground and a market that may have already priced in the best of the cycle. The decision to buy, hold, or sell rests on one judgment: whether the ECB’s next move is a pause or a reversal.
markets.ft.com, markets.ft.com, investing.com, investing.com, simplywall.st, tradingview.com, sharenavigator.ie
Frequently asked questions
What is the ticker symbol for Bank of Ireland on Euronext?
The ticker symbol for Bank of Ireland Group PLC on the Euronext Dublin exchange is BIRG.IR. The ISIN is IE00BD1RP616. The bank also trades on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker BIRG.L and on US OTC markets under BKRIY.
Does Bank of Ireland pay a dividend in 2026?
Yes, Bank of Ireland is forecast to pay a dividend of €0.39 per share in 2026, implying a dividend yield of approximately 2.0% at the current share price of €19.21. The dividend was declared with the board’s full-year results and reflects the bank’s improved capital position.
How does the Bank of Ireland share price compare to AIB share price?
Bank of Ireland’s current share price of €19.21 gives it a market cap of €18.14 billion, larger than AIB’s estimated €13-€15 billion. Both stocks have benefited from the same ECB rate cycle and Irish economic tailwinds. Bank of Ireland offers a slightly higher dividend yield and a more diversified loan book, while AIB has a larger mortgage market share.
What factors affect Bank of Ireland stock performance?
The primary factors are ECB interest rate policy (which drives net interest margins), Irish economic growth and unemployment (which affect loan demand and credit quality), housing market activity (which influences mortgage origination), and competition from AIB and non-bank lenders. Regulatory changes and capital requirements also play a role.
Is Bank of Ireland considered a value or growth stock?
Bank of Ireland is currently trading at a valuation that reflects its recovery from the 2022 lows. With a dividend yield of ~2.0% and earnings growth driven by margin expansion, it sits somewhere between a value and a cyclical growth stock. The wide range of analyst targets (€12.50 to €22.90) reflects the uncertainty about whether the current earnings level is sustainable.
What is the 7% rule in shares investing?
The 7% rule is a risk management guideline that suggests selling a stock if it drops 7% below your purchase price, to limit losses. It is not a formal rule but a common stop-loss strategy used by retail investors. For Bank of Ireland shares at €19.21, a 7% stop-loss would trigger at approximately €17.86.
What are the best shares to buy right now in Ireland?
The best shares for Irish investors depend on individual risk tolerance and investment horizon. Bank of Ireland and AIB are popular choices for exposure to the Irish economy and interest rate cycle. Other options include CRH (building materials), Kerry Group (food), and Ryanair (aviation). Diversification across sectors is generally recommended over concentrating in a single stock.
How can I buy Bank of Ireland shares in Ireland?
Irish investors can buy Bank of Ireland shares through a stockbroker or online trading platform that offers access to Euronext Dublin. Popular options include Davy Select, DEGIRO, Trading 212, and Revolut. The shares trade under the ticker BIRG.IR. You will need a brokerage account, sufficient funds in euros, and to place a buy order during market hours (Euronext Dublin is open 08:00-16:30 GMT).
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