Investing.com -- Mediobanca (BIT:MDBI) posted a €1 billion net profit in the first nine months of its fiscal year, driven by broad-based revenue growth and strong capital generation.
Group revenues rose 5% year-over-year to €2.8 billion, with all core businesses contributing.
Wealth management revenue increased 5% to €727 million, corporate and investment banking grew 26% to €677 million, and consumer finance rose 7% to €954 million.
Insurance revenue remained flat at €349 million. The bank’s cost-to-income ratio stayed below 43%, and the cost of risk declined to 47 basis points.
Earnings per share reached €1.19, up 7% from a year earlier. Return on tangible equity improved to 14%, rising 60 basis points over the same period.
Net profit for the third quarter alone stood at €334 million, unchanged from the previous quarter. Revenue for the quarter totaled €920 million, a 3% increase from the same period last year.
Quarterly growth came across most divisions. Wealth management revenue rose 6% to €247 million, corporate and investment banking gained 17% to €226 million, and consumer finance climbed 7% to €326 million.
Insurance revenue declined 16% to €106 million. Net interest income held steady at €497 million, rising 1% from the previous quarter.
Fee income came in at €273 million, up 15% year-over-year, following a strong advisory performance in the second quarter.
The cost of risk continued to fall in the third quarter, reaching 39 basis points. Improvements were reported in both the corporate and consumer portfolios.
Mediobanca confirmed its guidance for the full fiscal year ending in June 2025. It expects net new money of €9 billion to €10 billion, strong net interest income, low double-digit growth in fee income, and earnings per share growth between 6% and 8%.
The group aims to maintain a high shareholder payout, targeting a 70% cash distribution along with an ongoing share buyback program.
The bank’s CET1 ratio stood at 15.6%, bolstered by Basel IV adjustments. A €385 million share buyback, approved last year, is already 71% complete.
Mediobanca will pay an interim dividend of €0.56 per share in May, with the balance to be paid in November.
The results follow the announcement of a proposed merger with Banca Generali (BIT:GASI). The deal aims to form a new European leader in wealth management, with total financial assets of more than €210 billion and net new money exceeding €15 billion.
On a combined basis, the group would report €4.4 billion in revenue and €1.5 billion in net profit, with half of each coming from wealth management. Return on tangible equity would stand at 20%. Distribution guidance through fiscal year 2026 remains unchanged at €4 billion.