Mediobanca readies 385 mln euros buyback after 24% profit rise
FY net profit up 24% to 1.27 billion euros
Dividend up 26% at 1.07 euros per share
Adds Nagel quotes, background, writes through
By Gianluca Semeraro
MILAN, Aug 1 (Reuters) -Italy's Mediobanca MDBI.MI will launch a share buyback programme worth around 385 million euros ($417 million), it said on Thursday after posting its best-ever yearly revenue and profit.
The bank posted a 24% rise in net profit to 1.27 billion euros, broadly in line with a consensus of analyst expectations provided by the company, on revenue up 9% at 3.6 billion, mainly thanks to the contribution of less capital-absorbing businesses such as wealth management.
It said it would pay a dividend of 1.07 euros per share, up 26% from last year.
The bank, whose financial year runs from July to June, reported an increase in earnings per share of 27% and reiterated a target for 15% compound annual growth in earnings per share set out in its three-year strategic plan to 2026, though for the current year it sees EPS growth of between 6% and 8%.
The plan's target "is confirmed", Chief Executive Alberto Nagel told a media call.
Analysts at Citi noted the share buyback was well above expectations.
In a statement, Nagel said: "The scenario for the coming months looks uncertain, due to the geopolitical and macro trends, and will require banks to be able to turn the expected volatile environment into opportunities.
"Mediobanca is in a privileged position on the back of its specialised business model."
For the current financial year, Mediobanca sees low double-digit growth in fees and low single-digit growth in net interest income.
Shares in the bank were down 1.3% in early trade against a 2% fall in the banking sector .SX7P.
($1 = 0.9237 euros)
Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; Editing by Alvise Armellini and David Holmes
Related Assets
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.