Austrian Post Records Massive Profit Decline in First Half

Among the most important building blocks of the group remains the branch and banking business around bank99. The integration of the financial services provider into Post's sales network is largely completed according to the announcement, yet revenues from this area could only partially offset the decline in the core business. Post management emphasizes that the bank99 offering continues to make a stable contribution to the overall income statement.

2026 Forecast Maintained

For the full 2026 financial year, Post management is sticking to its previous forecast and continues to target a slight revenue increase as well as operating profit (EBIT) in the range of recent years. This consistency in the forecast is interpreted by observers as a signal that management views the downturn as temporary and is counting on stabilization in the second half of the year.

New Mobile Brand Yellow as a Beacon of Hope

A bright spot is the Yellow mobile brand launched in April. „Die im April eingeführte Mobilfunkmarke 'Yellow' habe in den ersten Monaten ebenfalls einen sehr guten Kundenzustrom gehabt, heißt es in der Mitteilung." The product recorded a very strong customer influx in the first months, as the company highlights. With the new brand, Post is specifically targeting price-sensitive customer segments in the Austrian mobile market.

Post management also notes that competition in the e-commerce market remains high and that shipment volumes will only recover sustainably if the consumer climate in the Republic of Austria noticeably brightens again. Structural issues such as the increasing shift of orders abroad and rising delivery costs remain, in management's view, only limitedly addressable in the short term.

Outlook on the Second Half

All in all, the half-year falls short of Austrian Post's own expectations. Investors and analysts will scrutinize upcoming competitors' quarterly reports to assess whether this is an industry-wide development or company-specific problems. Particular attention is being paid to the further course of the second half and the question of whether the confirmed annual forecast can actually be maintained.

The company announced that it will consistently continue efficiency programs in delivery and administration to limit the earnings burden. Walter Oblin and the management team thus face the task of initiating the turnaround in day-to-day operations without jeopardizing the medium-term investment strategy. The coming weeks will show whether the confident forecast can actually be met or whether a correction becomes necessary.