Prior to now 5 years, Barclays (LSE: BARC) has put in a wonderful efficiency on the inventory market. Over that interval, the Barclays share price has soared by 149%.

The dividend yield is 2.6%, however an investor who had purchased on the decrease price 5 years in the past would now be yielding shut to six.5%.

Regardless of that sturdy share price progress, nonetheless, Barclays doesn’t essentially look overvalued now. The share trades on a price-to-earnings ratio of 9, decrease than rivals together with Lloyds and HSBC and broadly consistent with NatWest.

So, is there extra long-term potential for appreciation within the Barclays share price – and may I add the FTSE 100 firm to my portfolio?

Strong, confirmed enterprise

I do see rather a lot to love about Barclays.

Retail banking is usually a extremely worthwhile enterprise. Demand is in depth and is more likely to final over the long run. The enterprise mannequin is straightforward (though getting the main points proper might be fiendishly tough and expensive). Barclays has a powerful model, massive buyer base and lengthy expertise of how to run a retail financial institution.

Barclays has been rising this operation, for instance by means of its acquisition of Tesco Financial institution. Within the first quarter, the retail financial institution delivered revenue north of £2bn, a powerful year-on-year progress charge of 14%.

However – and that is the place it stands out among the many massive listed UK banks – Barclays is much more than only a excessive road operator centered on the UK. It has an intensive worldwide funding banking enterprise too.

That provides a number of volatility, however might be vastly profitable. Certainly, within the first quarter, the funding banking operation noticed revenue develop 16% to £3.8bn.

Not clearly overvalued

Is it a coincidence that Barclays trades on a cheaper-looking valuation than some UK rivals?

I don’t assume so. In truth, that has typically been the case and I feel there’s a easy motive for it. Whereas Barclays’ funding banking division gives the potential for bumper earnings in good years, it additionally provides extra dangers on prime of these within the retail banking arm.

Funding banks are costly to run, function in a brutally aggressive market and might see demand hunch when the financial system is fragile. Which means their profitability can undergo some wild swings.

Markets don’t like volatility. Barclays’ publicity to funding banking helps clarify the obvious low cost its shares promote at in comparison with some friends.

However though such dangers are actual, I don’t assume Barclays shares look costly given the standard of its operation. If the financial system softens, I anticipate each elements of its operations will see revenue fall. That would drag down the share price.

If the financial system ticks over tremendous, or does effectively, I see extra good days for the corporate forward. On that foundation, I feel the Barclays share price may rise farther from right here.

Personally although, the danger of the financial system weakening continues to place me off shopping for any financial institution shares for now, together with this one.