PIRAEUS: The bank intends to reward its shareholders solely through dividends (cash) during the period 2026-2030, as the high average earnings per share growth (EPS CAGR approx. 10%) makes the use of abuybacktool unnecessary.
The bank intends to distribute a total of €5 billion to its shareholders over the five-year period, corresponding to approximately €4 per share and approximately 50% of its current capitalization.
PIRAEUS II: As explained by Christos Megalos'management ,the net interest margin (NIM) is expected to increase by 30 basis points by 2028.
It is the only systemic bank with such an estimate, a development that is probably related to the expected "awakening"of demand for mortgage loans.
Piraeus Bank closed 2025 with an increase in its mortgage loan balance of approximately €100 million. This year, mortgages are expected to increase by €300 million.
Mortgages have a higher average spread on the one hand , and lower capital requirements on the other. Therefore, they have a positive effect on the net interest margin.
If the ECB keeps interest rates unchanged, as Piraeus Bank predicts, this may prove to be common ground.
ZELENSKY: The Ukrainian president indirectly but clearly made threats against the life of the Hungarian prime minister yesterday.
The conflict has been going on for years, as Viktor Orbán has at times put various obstacles in the way of EU funding for the war-torn country.
However, the dispute crossed all boundaries when Zelensky publicly stated yesterday that if "someone" prevents the timely financing of Ukraine with the EU's 90 billion, then he will give the details of that person to the "boys" from his country's Armed Forces.
So that they could contact him, as he said, and speak to him "in their own language."
Everyone knows that this person is Orban, who has dug his heels in and is blocking the mammoth funding because Ukraine has cut off the flow of cheap natural gas to his country.
And because there have been several organized murders of Russian officials and their relatives by "unknown" perpetrators over the last 3-4 years, such threats sound anything but empty.
Here is the relevant video, along with the reaction of the Hungarian Foreign Minister:
VELOPOULOS:"A fraud, a fool, and a bald head,"claims the president of the Greek Solution party, describing how independent MP Kostas Floros characterized him during a plenary session of the Greek Parliament.
In a letter of protest to Nikitas Kaklamanis, Kyriakos Velopoulos accused the MP of insulting him while Nikos Androulakis was speaking from the podium. In this context, he calls on the Speaker of the House to immediately punish the MP, whom he describes as "indicted, recidivist, and unrepentant."
For his part, Kostas Floros denies the accusations. "I didn't call him a 'baldie', but I told him to go and sell some hair oil for his bald head,"he told parliamentary reporters and accused Kyriakos Velopoulos of calling him a "a Nazi" and "Golden Dawn."
Ultimately, Mr. Floros is being referred to the Parliament's Ethics Committee for further action. All this just one day after Mr. Velopoulos had launched into a sexist tirade against US Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle, whom he called"Milf"(after the well-known acronym MILF).
And the level of the Parliament remains at rock bottom!
LOVERDOS: And in the midst of all this, the news that Andreas Loverdos took his exams a few days ago to obtain his second degree in drums did not receive the attention it deserved.
The... blue-collar executive even posted about it (last Monday, to be precise), along with a photo of his examiner.
It's what they call "the world is burning"...
LOAD LINE: Greek shipping company Load Line Marine, owned by George Sourlavas, is further strengthening its fleet with the acquisition of two handysize dry cargo ships.
The company announced on social media the acquisition of the bulk carrier Magnolia, with a capacity of 34,400 dwt and built in 2011, which previously belonged to Empire Bulkers and was named Aphrodite M.
According to S&P Global data, the agreement to acquire the ship was finalized in December 2025 for approximately $12.5 million, with the change of ownership and name taking place in March.
The sale appears to have been profitable for Empire Bulkers, which had acquired the ship in 2016 from Apex Marine for approximately $9.6 million.
At the same time, according to data from VesselsValue, Load Line Marine is also linked to the purchase of the Adventure, a 33,800 dwt bulk carrier built in 2011, from Alfa Marine.
PERFORMANCE SHIPPING: Andreas Michalopoulos, CEO of Performance Shipping, is optimistic about the prospects for the tanker market, estimating that three of the company's ships that will complete their charters in 2026 will secure particularly competitive contracts.
The Nasdaq-listed shipping company expects 2026 to be another strong year for the tanker market. As Mr. Michalopoulos noted, the industry's revenues are supported by increased trade in crude oil and refined products, stronger exports from the Middle East and Latin America, steady demand from China, and ongoing trade sanctions.
The company's outstanding charter balance amounts to approximately $350 million, with 88% coverage for 2026 and 72% for 2027, providing significant visibility into cash flows.
In the fourth quarter, net income was $7.6 million, while revenue increased to $26.2 million. On an annual basis, earnings reached $50 million, boosted by the sale of a ship.
COSTAMARE: The shipping company owned by the Constantakopoulos family is further strengthening its investment program by adding four new container ships to its order book.
According to the company's annual report, published late on Wednesday evening, Costamare signed contracts last month for the construction of four ships with a capacity of 3,100 TEU each, adding a total of 12,400 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit, a unit of measurement for capacity) to its order book.
The Greek shipping company, listed in the US with a fleet of 69 container ships, did not disclose the shipyard to which the new order was assigned. However, it is already known that six ships of the same capacity are being built at Zhoushan Changhong International Shipyard in China.
All ten of Costamare's new ships have secured "jobs." The first of the four, expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2028, has already been committed to a long-term charter, while the remaining three, with deliveries between the second and fourth quarters of 2028, have secured medium-term employment.
The cost of the new ships has not yet been disclosed, and the company is currently negotiating their financing.
ELLINIKO: Drivers on Poseidonos Avenue will have to be patient a little longer. The underground construction project at Elliniko, being built by AVAX, aims to relieve congestion in the coastal zone, but it is behind schedule.
Due to technical difficulties and the tram line, as we learn from Lamda Development, the project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2028.
We shall see ...
ELLINIKO II: Overall, the project is now in its most demanding construction phase. A total of 40 construction sites are currently operating on the site of the former airport. Of course, there are various unforeseen circumstances during the excavations, or rather, in this particular case, more than 300 unforeseen circumstances.
To date, more than 300 bombs and mines from World War II have been located and neutralized at Elliniko. In collaboration with army experts, they are being neutralized and removed.
It's a miracle that planes have been flying overhead for so many years and we haven't had any accidents...
CENERGY: The Viohalco group company wiped out almost all of Wednesday's gains. It closed at €20.15, down 2.12%, with a turnover exceeding €6 million.
However, after the close of trading, management announced in a conference call on the 2025 results that it expects to record adjusted EBITDA of €370-400 after the close of trading, announced in a conference call on the 2025 results that it expects to record adjusted EBITDA of €370-400 million, achieving a year ahead of schedule the medium-term target it had set for 2027.
The stock has returned just 3% over 30 days, but 89% over the half-year.
EYDAP: Following the acquisition of 9.7% of the company by GEK Terna, many scenarios are being discussed. However, as far as the possibility of increasing the stake in the water company by purchasing shares held by businessman George Salonikis is concerned, sources clarify to this column that this is not the case.
"We made the move we wanted to make. We are not interested in doing anything else immediately. If there is something else available on the market, we may consider it," they emphasize.
Therefore, this scenario is likely out of the picture. At least for now.
AEGEAN:Wednesday's recovery proved to be a pause in the downward trend that began on Monday. The company, which has been hit hard by developments in the Middle East, fell to €12.02 yesterday, or 2.12%. Trading volume was significantly lower than in previous days, limited to 131,000 shares.
It should be noted that on Wednesday, Barclay's gave a lower target price of €15.7 (from €16.6), assessing the new data for the sector.
INTRALOT BALLY'S: The stock's rebound doubled, giving it some breathing room after a downward trend that began in early January at €1.1.
The stock hit a low for the year on Tuesday at€0.87, while in the two days that followed, it rose to €0.95. Yesterday, gains reached 4.37% and trading approached four million shares.
It should be noted that the 2025 high is €1.3 since early October.
CREDIA: Tomorrow, at the teleconference on the 2025 results, but mainly on Monday, when Eleni Vrettou is expected to reveal the bank's future plans and capital increase during Capital Markets Day, the market's attention will be focused.
Last year ended with net credit expansion of €1.1 billion and recurring operating profits of €82.5 million, both record figures.
The share price stands at €1.24. It has lost 14.6% over the last 30 days, but has gained 74% over the last 12 months.
PERSIKOS: The markets may remain relatively calm, but in more closed (geopolitical) circles, scenarios capable of dampening even the most optimistic spirits have begun to circulate.
By way of example, we will mention the three scenarios highlighted by Robert Pape, a well-known professor at the University of Chicago (and former advisor to Obama), an expert on national and international security issues, with an emphasis on air power (perfect for the occasion) and terrorism.
According to yesterday's public comments by the distinguished professor (who, we note, was opposed to US involvement in the conflict from the outset), we are clearly in a phase of escalation.
As he states, "history shows that even prolonged aerial bombing campaigns rarely cause immediate collapse. What they most often cause is escalation, geographical expansion, great pressure on infrastructure, the involvement of alliances, and pressure to increase the forces involved.
This is the phasewe are now entering."
PERSIKOS II: The professor thus presents three scenarios for further escalation, each worse than the last:
- Prolonged regional war disrupting the Gulf's energy, food, and water infrastructure (water is even more valuable than oil in the Persian Gulf, because most countries rely on desalination plants, which are particularly vulnerable to attacks).
- An escalation involving serious US ground forces or ground forces of its "proxies" (such as the Kurds) or even third countries, such as Azerbaijan.
- Last, worst, but also most remote, is a"nuclear incident"to give one side a "signal" to the other, demonstrating power in order to bring about changes in the opponent's negotiating stance.
The professor has not yet explained the third scenario (the first two do not require much explanation).
However, given that Iran does not have nuclear weapons, at least as far as we know, it could involve conventional warning strikes on Israel's nuclear facilities, a threat that has already been (verbally) put on the table.
The use of nuclear weapons by Israel is currently considered unthinkable, as is the involvement of a third country with nuclear capabilities. In any case, however, because all of the above scenarios would have disastrous consequences, not only for the region but also for the global economy, it would be desirable not to see them come to fruition.