METRO share

After the capital markets’ positive development and growth achieved over the 2017 trading year, the economic conditions took a negative turn during the course of 2018. The increasing uncertainty caused by political and geopolitical risks, especially the trade dispute with the United States, resulted in fluctuations on the stock markets. Financial year 2017/18 saw the DAX falling 5%, from 12,903 to 12,247 points, between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2018. While the MDAX showed little movement, the EURO STOXX Retail took a similar development as the DAX.

The METRO share finished financial year 2017/18 with a closing price of €13.50 in Xetra trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This corresponds to a decline of 24%. After a fairly constant price development ahead of the Annual General Meeting in February 2018, the share price started to decline after the adjusted forecast in April and reached its lowest closing price of €10.08 on 26 July 2018. The stock price recovered in the fourth quarter. The preference share traded at €12.61 on 30 September 2018.

Development of the METRO share price (%)

Market capitalisation and index inclusion

The market capitalisation of METRO AG was €4.9 billion at the end of September 2018. In the time between the initial stock exchange listing and the end of the financial year, a typical trading day at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in financial year 2017/18 saw an average of 1.1 million of METRO’s ordinary shares traded. Around 3,000 of the significantly less liquid preference shares were exchanged on each trading day.

The METRO AG ordinary share is included in a number of indices, most noteworthy the MDAX. The MDAX at that time comprised the 50 largest German corporations with the highest trading volumes below the DAX 30. To include companies previously listed in the TecDAX, the MDAX was extended to 60 titles on 24 September 2018. Its composition is based on fixed selection criteria. In addition to being listed in the Prime Standard and a free float of more than 10%, inclusion in the index depends on the free-float market capitalisation and the stock exchange turnover. As at 30 September 2018, METRO was ranked number 34 in the MDAX in terms of market capitalisation and number 24 in terms of stock exchange turnover.

The METRO share is also included in the global MSCI index and the relevant industry sector indices EURO STOXX Retail and STOXX 600 Retail.

Many investors place a high priority on the issue of sustainability. METRO is fostering the continuous dialogue with sustainability-oriented investors, analysts and rating agencies. METRO AG once again retained its ranking as best-of-class in 2018, both in the internationally significant sustainability index Dow Jones Sustainability World, as well as in the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe. Rating agency Oekom Research issued a prime recommendation for METRO AG in the wholesale category (Trading Companies & Distributors). METRO is also listed in the FTSE4Good index. METRO has been issuing public statements on climate protection and water for many years through CDP. METRO achieved a rating of A– (on a scale from F to A) for both subject areas.

METRO shares are also included in the MSCI World ESG Leaders Index and its European counterparts.

METRO has charted the right course with its sustainable business practices.

Dividend and dividend policy

The Management Board and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend of €0.70 per ordinary share to the Annual General Meeting on 15 February 2019. This proposed dividend corresponds to 74% of the earnings per share of €0.95 and thus exceeds the distribution quota of 45% to 55% provided for in METRO’s dividend policy. The intention of the Management Board is to demonstrate the importance of dividend continuity and its confidence in the future of METRO despite the adjusted forecast. The dividend yield on the basis of the closing price on 30 September 2018 is 5.2% for the METRO ordinary share and 5.6% for the preference share.