Record-breaking results from European giants: Poste Italiane, Grifols, and Swiss Re report profits

The final days of February 2026 brought a wave of financial reports confirming the strong health of European business in the past year. One of the most spectacular successes was boasted by Poste Italiane. The Italian national operator achieved record revenues of €13.1 billion, the highest result in the group's history. The driving force was the parcel and logistics segment, which grew by nearly 10 percent year-on-year, confirming the company's successful transformation from traditional postal services towards e-commerce. EBITDA for many infrastructure and energy companies also exceeded expectations. Spain's Acciona recorded a 90 percent increase in net profit, reaching €803 million, while the energy conglomerate Eni maintained strong cash flows despite falling commodity prices. Technology company Indra also noted success, with its shares soaring after announcing a profit of €436 million and a record order book worth €16 billion. 2025 was a period of stabilization for financial markets after a series of interest rate hikes that began in 2022 in response to a sharp rise in inflation triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The insurance sector presented solid fundamentals. Swiss Re increased its profit to $4.8 billion, exceeding its own strategic targets thanks to fewer major claims and good investment returns. Meanwhile, France's Axa closed the year with an €8.4 billion profit, prompting the board to propose a high dividend. Against this backdrop, the European Central Bank (ECB) stands out, which indeed recorded its third consecutive annual loss of €1.3 billion, but this is a result over 80 percent better than the previous year. The ECB forecasts a return to profitability in 2026, which depends on the further shaping of interest rates. „È stato un anno eccezionale: abbiamo registrato i migliori risultati della nostra storia, caratterizzati da ricavi e redditività a livelli record.” — CEO of Poste Italiane, announcing the group's historic results. Meanwhile, Spain's Grifols generated €402 million in net profit, representing a 156 percent increase. This result is particularly significant in the context of a dispute with the Gotham City Research fund, which accused the company of accounting manipulations. The company is effectively reducing its financial leverage and focusing on developing its biopharmaceutical segment. Despite turmoil around Stellantis, which recorded a loss due to costly reorganization, European stock indices ended sessions in positive territory, driven by hopes for an improvement in the economic climate in the coming months.