Should I buy Wells Fargo stock in 2025?

What is Wells Fargo?

How much is the Wells Fargo stock?

The price of Wells Fargo stock is rising this week. As of now, the stock is trading at $74.51, reflecting a 1.06% increase over the last 24 hours and up 2.31% for the week.

The dividend yield of 2.15% makes Wells Fargo especially appealing for income-focused investors. Its beta of 1.12 indicates a moderately higher volatility compared to the broader market.

This combination of growth and income potential positions Wells Fargo as an attractive consideration for Irish investors looking for stability with some upside.

Our complete analysis of the Wells Fargo stock

We have conducted a rigorous review of Wells Fargo’s most recent financial results and observed the company’s stock performance over the past three years, leveraging a broad suite of financial indicators, technical signals, market data and competitor analysis processed through our proprietary algorithms. The results speak to a transformation in the group’s fundamentals and mood among institutional investors. So, why might Wells Fargo stock once again become a strategic entry point into the financial sector in 2025?

Recent Performance and Market Context

Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) has staged a robust comeback, as evidenced by its current share price of $74.51 (as of 30 May 2025), representing a year-on-year gain of +26.83% and a YTD performance of +6.08%. While the stock did see a modest pullback over the last six months (-2.18%), this period of consolidation has proven an ideal reset, setting the stage for the fresh upward momentum witnessed over the past month (+4.93%). Positive market sentiment has further buoyed short-term performance, with a 5-day return of +2.31%.

A pivotal recent catalyst emerged in May 2025, when the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) lifted a long-standing consent order from 2015. This regulatory milestone signals a material improvement in Wells Fargo’s risk and compliance environment, restoring confidence across both retail and institutional investor bases. The company has also completed the monetisation of non-core assets, such as the recent divestment of its rail portfolio to GATX and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. Meanwhile, with the US financials sector broadly benefiting from stabilising interest rates and improving margins, Wells Fargo’s market context looks increasingly compelling heading into H2 2025.

Technical Analysis

Wells Fargo’s technical profile bolsters the fundamental case for entry, with significant bullish signals consolidating over multiple time frames. The 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at 54.77—firmly within neutral territory but inclining higher, indicative of healthy demand without signs of overbought exhaustion. The MACD (12,26,9) at 1.17 and Williams %R at -60.83 are flashing clear buy signals, supported by a Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of -6.95 (neutral series, but trending up).

Crucially, all key moving averages reinforce the positive momentum:

On the price action front, the $72.29–$73.33 zone provides strong support, while resistance levels at $74.75 and $75.41 are in sight – a potential breakout above which could catalyse renewed institutional inflows. The aggregate technical consensus is distinctly bullish, with 12 out of 22 tracked signals rating WFC a buy.

Fundamental Analysis

From a fundamental standpoint, Wells Fargo’s investment case has materially improved. Q1 2025 reported earnings per share of $1.39, up 16% year-on-year and surpassing analyst consensus by 3.25%. While total revenue eased modestly to $20.15bn (down 3% YoY), the outperformance on profitability showcases ongoing operational efficiency and expense management—despite continuing headwinds on net interest income.

Valuation remains a key draw for value-focused investors:

These multiples are compelling relative to both the US bank sector average and Wells Fargo’s own historic norms, suggesting the stock is priced attractively—particularly given the prospect of regulatory constraint removal and improving operational flexibility.

The company’s return on equity (ROE) of 11.02% and a well-backed quarterly dividend ($0.40, 2.15% yield) reinforce the strength of the business model. As the fourth-largest US bank by market cap, Wells Fargo’s diversified operations (consumer banking, commercial banking, corporate & investment banking, and wealth management) continue to drive competitive scale and revenue stability.

Under the stewardship of CEO Charlie Scharf since 2019, Wells Fargo’s management has executed a strategic pivot—transforming compliance, simplifying the business portfolio, and focusing on both digital innovation and core banking services. The brand retains one of the deepest consumer footprints in US finance, with a strong deposit base ($382.28bn in liquidity) acting as a formidable buffer and a platform for margin growth if/when asset cap restrictions are lifted.

Volume and Liquidity

Liquidity is a further positive: the stock trades at a 10-day average daily volume of 12.3 million shares, delivering tight spreads and efficient price discovery. With 3.25 billion shares outstanding and a highly liquid float, WFC exhibits excellent depth for both institutional and retail investors.

Sustained trading volume at these levels reflects pronounced market conviction in Wells Fargo’s turnaround narrative. Such market depth ensures that technical moves and catalysts can be expressed fully in the share price—enabling dynamic but stable valuation reassessment as new information becomes available.

Catalysts and Positive Outlook

Several significant catalysts are shaping a highly constructive outlook for WFC:

• Regulatory liberation: A key overhang is expected to ease materially, as Wells Fargo’s CEO has expressed strong confidence that the Federal Reserve will lift the $1.95 trillion asset cap in the near term. Removal of this restriction would radically accelerate the bank’s growth trajectory, freeing Wells Fargo to expand its lending, investing, and balance sheet operations.
• Regulatory compliance momentum: The company has had 12 consent orders lifted since 2019—including six in just the first half of 2025—demonstrating verifiable regulatory progress and management execution.
• Interest rate environment: With US and global rate paths stabilising and potential for further improvement in interest margins, large banks like Wells Fargo stand to benefit disproportionately from any uptick in lending margins.
• Balance sheet discipline and asset reallocation: Recent strategic disposals – notably the sale of rail assets – signal a disciplined approach to capital allocation, with management focused on core banking profitability and shareholder returns.
• Brand, innovation, digital transformation: The bank is leveraging its historical brand strength and accelerating expansion in digital banking, payment platforms and wealth solutions, maintaining relevance in a competitive field dominated by both legacy banks and fintech disruptors.
• Market sentiment: Analyst consensus is currently bullish (18 “buy” ratings), and the momentum is reinforced by the stock’s technical strength and the positive regulatory cycle.

Investment Strategies

Wells Fargo seems to present attractive tactical and strategic entry options for different investor profiles:

• Short-term: With the stock consolidating above strong support ($72.29–$73.33), short-term traders may look to capitalise on bullish technical signals (MACD, moving averages), as the price targets the immediate resistance at $75.41 and towards the consensus analyst price target of $78.25.
• Medium-term: Further upward catalysts—including the highly anticipated July 2025 earnings report and any regulatory announcements regarding the asset cap—point to continued rerating potential in the months ahead. Investors may see value in entering ahead of these events.
• Long-term: For investors with a multi-year horizon, Wells Fargo offers a blend of dividend income (2.15% yield), value-oriented valuation, and substantial upside from operational and regulatory inflection points. The group’s ongoing strategic transformation adds further intrigue for those seeking relatively defensive exposure to the US financials sector.

Is it the right time to buy Wells Fargo?

Aggregating these observations, Wells Fargo stands out for its improving fundamentals, substantial progress on regulatory issues, attractive valuation, and demonstrable technical momentum. Catalysts such as the potential removal of the asset cap, steady management under CEO Charlie Scharf, and a robust brand in US banking lay the groundwork for upward re-rating and renewed investor interest.

The stock’s blend of disciplined operational execution, attractive yield, and unlocked growth potential positions it exceptionally well within the US and global banking universe. Analyst consensus and technical indicators increasingly reinforce the view that Wells Fargo may be on the cusp of a new bullish phase in 2025.

For those seeking exposure to a revitalised and upwardly mobile US banking franchise, supported by tangible catalysts and compelling relative valuation, Wells Fargo seems to represent an excellent opportunity at current levels. As ever, careful monitoring of interim results and regulatory developments remains warranted—but the balance of evidence points firmly to Wells Fargo being a stock investors should, at the minimum, place near the top of their financial sector watchlist.

With substantial upside potential and company-specific catalysts converging, Wells Fargo deserves close, confident attention from strategic investors in today’s financial markets.

How to buy Wells Fargo stock in Ireland?

Buying Wells Fargo shares online as an Irish investor is both straightforward and secure when you use a regulated brokerage platform. Today’s digital brokers offer two main ways to invest: classic spot buying (owning real shares) or trading via Contracts for Difference (CFDs), which allows you to speculate on price movements without actually owning the stock. Both routes are accessible fully online in just a few clicks. Below, we guide you through each method in detail, followed by a broker comparison section further down the page so you can find the solution best suited to your needs.

Spot Buying

A cash or spot purchase means buying real Wells Fargo shares, granting you direct ownership, dividend rights, and voting privileges at shareholder meetings. For Irish investors, brokers typically charge a fixed commission for each buy or sell order, ranging from €3 to €20 (or about $3–$20, depending on the platform and currency conversion).

Example

Suppose the Wells Fargo share price is $74.51 and you invest $1,000 through a broker that charges a $5 commission. After deducting the fee, you have $995 to invest, allowing you to buy approximately 13 Wells Fargo shares ($995 ÷ $74.51 ≈ 13 shares).

✔️ Gain scenario: If the share price rises by 10% to $81.96, your 13 shares are now worth about $1,065.
Result: That’s a gross gain of $100, or +10% on your investment (excluding any exchange rate fluctuations and taxes).

Trading via CFD

Trading Wells Fargo shares via CFDs (Contracts for Difference) means you don’t actually own the company’s shares, but instead speculate on their price movements—either upwards (long) or downwards (short). CFDs are flexible and suitable for both rising and falling markets, with key costs comprising the spread (the difference between buy and sell price) and overnight financing fees if you hold positions longer than one day. Irish brokers offering CFDs are regulated, but these products are best suited for experienced investors due to leverage and risks involved.

Example

You open a CFD position on Wells Fargo shares with $1,000 and apply 5× leverage. This gives you exposure to $5,000 worth of Wells Fargo stock.

✔️ Gain scenario: If Wells Fargo shares increase by 8%, your position profits by 8% × 5 = 40%, netting you a $400 gain on your original $1,000 (before fees and funding costs).

Final Advice

Before investing, it's essential to compare brokers’ fees, conditions and features, as charges and available products vary widely for Irish residents. Your choice between spot buying and CFDs should depend on your investing objectives, experience and risk appetite. Spot buying suits those seeking long-term ownership and dividends, while CFDs allow for leveraged, short-term trading. To help you make an informed decision, a comprehensive broker comparison is available further down the page.

Our 7 tips for buying Wells Fargo stock

The latest news about Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo’s stock rose 2.31% over the last five trading days, accompanied by positive technical signals. The share price closed at $74.51 on May 30, 2025, reflecting an intraday gain of 1.06% and continued momentum after a month-long rise of nearly 5%. Short- and medium-term technical trends are bullish, with major moving averages (20, 50, 100, and 200 days) all indicating buy signals, and oscillators such as MACD and Williams %R also supporting positive momentum. This suggests increased investor confidence and signals favorable equity sentiment—a crucial factor for international investors, including those in Ireland, who seek strong, upward-trending US financial names for portfolio exposure.

Regulatory progress has further de-risked Wells Fargo, as the US OCC lifted a longstanding 2015 consent order this May. This significant development marks another milestone in Wells Fargo’s ongoing compliance transformation, a narrative closely followed by international asset managers and compliance-sensitive investors. The company has now seen twelve consent orders lifted since 2019, including six in 2025 to date, reducing regulatory overhangs and operational constraints. CEO Charlie Scharf has publicly expressed deep confidence that the Federal Reserve will soon lift Wells Fargo’s $1.95 trillion asset cap, a catalyst that could unlock future revenue and lending growth—particularly pertinent for institutional investors in Ireland, given Dublin’s prominent role as a European financial hub and gateway for US capital flows.

The bank’s first-quarter 2025 earnings exceeded consensus forecasts, with EPS up 16% year-on-year to $1.39. Despite total revenues falling slightly short of estimates at $20.15 billion, earnings per share were notably higher than the expected $1.24 consensus. This positive earnings surprise (+3.25%) underscores underlying improvements in operational management and efficiency, even amid a softer net interest income environment. Both Irish and multinational investment firms closely monitor US bank earnings for global asset allocation, and positive earnings dynamics at Wells Fargo support stronger transatlantic financial sector sentiment.

Wells Fargo’s fundamental value proposition remains attractive, with a price/earnings ratio of 13.4 and a 2.15% dividend yield. Analyst consensus targets a 5% upside from current levels, to $78.25. The bank’s strong capital position, robust liquidity ($382.28 billion in deposits), and an 11.02% return on equity underpin its appeal as a core holding in diversified equity portfolios. The stock is fully accessible and eligible for both individual and institutional investors in Ireland, with standard US withholding tax rates on dividends and local tax treatment for capital gains, simplifying cross-border investment. This is especially relevant to Irish pension funds and wealth managers seeking stable, income-generating US financial assets.

The recent sale of rail assets to GATX and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners streamlines Wells Fargo’s balance sheet and sharpens its business focus. This move demonstrates continued progress in disposing of non-core operations, supporting capital discipline and long-term efficiency. Strategic portfolio adjustments of this type are monitored by international investors and regulatory observers in Ireland, as they indicate prudent management and increase transparency—key considerations given Ireland’s emphasis on strong corporate governance standards for foreign-listed investments.

FAQ

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.