UniCredit Lifts Profit Outlook Amid Looming Commerzbank Bid — Update
By Aimee Look
UniCredit raised its annual profit forecast and reported higher first-quarter earnings, as it gears up to launch a takeover bid for Germany's Commerzbank.
The bank said Tuesday that early progress in its transformation program supported its improved profit expectations for the full year. It expects a net profit equal to or above 11 billion euros, equivalent to $12.86 billion, against its previous forecast of around 11 billion euros.
UniCredit said it remains focused on its standalone trajectory, and that its offer for Commerzbank is an add-on to that baseline across all possible outcomes.
The Italian lender has been embroiled in a stalemate with Commerzbank after it became the biggest shareholder in the German bank and pushed for a closer relationship with its German unit HypoVereinsbank.
UniCredit Chief Executive Andrea Orcel moved to break the impasse with the launch of an offer for all of Commerzbank, but his campaign faced staunch opposition from German officials and unions. Commerzbank said it sees no basis for a deal.
UniCredit said its standalone trajectory would be enhanced regardless of whether the offer results in it achieving control of Commerzbank.
Quarterly net profit at the Italian lender was 3.22 billion euros, a 16% increase compared with the year-earlier period. The figure beat analysts' expectations of 2.70 billion euros, according to median consensus estimates compiled by the bank.
Revenue for the first quarter grew 4.9% to 6.87 billion euros, with fees and insurance revenue making up for a decline in net interest income, the difference between what banks earn and pay on interest rates. The median consensus estimate among analysts stood at 6.42 billion euros.
Orcel said that UniCredit posted a record set of quarterly results across the bank's key financial metrics.
Shares were up 3.1% in early European morning trading.
Write to Aimee Look at aimee.look@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 05, 2026 03:47 ET (07:47 GMT)
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