The SDAX-listed leasing specialist GRENKE was able to record a slight increase in consolidated earnings last year, 2023. With an increase of 3 percent to 86.7 million euros, the company from Baden-Baden is proving to be robust in a challenging market environment. CEO Sebastian Hirsch was pleased with the development: "We have managed the turnaround." This success is particularly due to the strong new business that GRENKE was able to generate over the course of the year.

Despite the significant increase in interest income, the company had to cope with a higher refinancing requirement due to the increased volume of new business, which led to a slight reduction in net interest income by just under two percent to 338.5 million euros, in an environment of rising capital market interest rates. This highlights the challenges faced by GRENKE in a volatile interest environment and at the same time underscores the importance of new business for the stability and growth of the company.

The management of GRENKE is optimistic and proposes a slightly increased dividend of 0.47 euros per share for the year 2023, which represents an increase of two cents compared to the previous year. This proposal reflects the Board's confidence in the financial health and future prospects of the company.

For the current year, the executive board reaffirmed the forecast that was already formulated at the beginning of November. GRENKE aims to achieve new leasing business between €3.0 and €3.2 billion. In net terms, the company expects a profit between €95 and €115 million. These targets demonstrate the ambitious growth path that GRENKE is pursuing despite macroeconomic uncertainties and capital market challenges.

The positive market response to this news was reflected in a slight increase in the GRENKE share, which at times traded at 22.55 euros on XETRA, thus recording an increase of 0.67 percent. This underscores the confidence of investors in the strategy and future viability of GRENKE in a changing financial environment.