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DENMARK - Sydbank A/S, a leading financial institution in Denmark, announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, revealing a profit of DKK 645 million, translating to a 17.4% annual return on equity after taxes. Despite a challenging market environment marked by uncertainty, the bank’s performance aligns with its initial expectations for the quarter.
The bank’s core income reached DKK 1,700 million, an 8% decrease from the same period in the previous year. Trading income also saw a downturn, falling to DKK 64 million compared to DKK 89 million in Q1 2024. Operating expenses rose slightly to DKK 881 million, up from DKK 831 million year-over-year.
Core earnings before impairment charges totaled DKK 883 million, a 20% decline from Q1 2024. The bank also reported impairment charges of DKK 35 million for loans and advances. Additionally, bank loans and advances decreased by DKK 1.2 billion, a 2% reduction from the end of 2024.
The Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) capital ratio was reported at 16.3%, which is a decrease of 1.5 percentage points compared to the end of the previous year.
Sydbank’s CEO, Mark Luscombe, noted the positive return on equity in light of market conditions characterized by uncertainty. He observed that customers are opting for financial flexibility, with retail clients focusing on savings and corporate clients strengthening balance sheets, which has led to decreased lending, increased deposits, and a net rise in assets under management.
Ellen Trane Nørby, the chairman of the board, expressed satisfaction with the Q1 results, which met the bank’s expectations despite faster-than-anticipated interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank and the Danish central bank.
Looking ahead, moderate growth is projected for the Danish economy in 2025, and Sydbank anticipates a profit after tax in the range of DKK 2,200 to 2,600 million. This forecast assumes a 1 percentage point reduction in the Danish central bank’s interest rate over the year. However, the outlook is subject to financial market fluctuations and macroeconomic factors that could impact levels of impairment charges.
The bank’s new strategy, "Bigger Sydbank," aims to enhance customer focus and retain talented employees, which has already led to increased customer satisfaction and new client acquisitions across all segments.
The information in this article is based on a press release statement from Sydbank A/S.
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