Grenke (ETR:GLJ) said its first-quarter 2026 results showed progress on profitability and cost discipline despite what Chief Financial Officer Dr. Martin Paal described as an “unchanged, challenging macroeconomic environment” marked by geopolitical tensions, elevated insolvencies in many European countries and cautious investment behavior among small and midsize enterprises.
On the company’s earnings call, Paal said group earnings rose to EUR 15.5 million, compared with EUR 10.2 million in the prior-year quarter. Annualized return on equity after taxes reached 4.4%, more than 1 percentage point above the level a year earlier. Grenke is targeting a 10% return on equity by 2030.
