Scout24 AG

European stock markets closed higher on Friday as mostly encouraging earnings updates and decent economic data helped offset concerns about Middle East tensions. The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.31%, Germany's DAX moved up 0.69%, France's CAC 40 gained 0.17%, and the UK's FTSE 100 ended 0.31% up. Weak U.S. jobs data showing a drop of 23,000 jobs in July against expectations of a 70,000 gain raised hopes the Federal Reserve will not hike interest rates soon. In corporate news, SAP, Scout24, Infineon, Siemens and BMW gained 2% to 4% in Germany, while Daimler Truck Holding shed nearly 3% despite reporting a bottom line of EUR1.457 billion, up from EUR277 million a year earlier. Allianz closed lower by about 1.6% after second-quarter earnings fell to EUR2.595 billion from EUR2.841 billion, and Munich RE dropped 1.4% even as net profit rose to €2.211 billion from €2.085 billion.

German stocks moved higher on Monday, lifting the benchmark DAX to a new record high of 25,902.91, as strong factory orders data and expectations of strong earnings updates and easing inflation concerns aided sentiment. The DAX was up 47.74 points or 0.18% at 25,845.22 around noon. Germany's factory orders rebounded at a stronger-than-expected pace in May, expanding 1.9% on a monthly basis, in contrast to the revised 3.2% drop in April, data from Destatis showed. Orders were forecast to grow 1.1%. Among individual stocks, Scout24 was the top gainer, up 2.75%, while SAP and Deutsche Boerse moved up nearly 2%.

Scout24 SE shareholders approved all management proposals at the Annual General Meeting, including a dividend increase to €1.50 per share for the 2025 financial year, up roughly 14% from the prior year's €1.32. The meeting also adjusted Supervisory Board remuneration and introduced a share ownership requirement obliging members to build and hold stock equal to 100% of their annual base pay over four years. A renewed authorisation to repurchase treasury shares was granted, continuing the company's buyback strategy. CEO Ralf Weitz highlighted Scout24's evolution into an integrated real estate ecosystem leveraging artificial intelligence, while CFO Martin Mildner noted the group plans to return €455 million to shareholders in 2026 through dividends and buybacks.