Shares of PostNL (AS:PTNL) rose more than 8% on Wednesday after the Dutch mail and parcel company announced a new strategy and set financial targets for 2028, including revenue of more than €4 billion and a tripling of normalised EBIT.
The company presented its “Breakthrough 2028” plan at its Capital Markets Day in The Hague, outlining structural changes to its operations and a revised dividend policy.
Starting in January 2026, PostNL will divide its current Parcels business into two segments, E-commerce and Platforms.
The E-commerce division will focus on moving from volume to value by tailoring services and improving network efficiency, while Platforms will aim for international expansion through asset-light operations such as Spring and MyParcel.
PostNL confirmed that its Mail division remains under pressure due to the government’s universal service obligation framework.
The company said the current proposal is insufficient and results in a structurally loss-making service.
On Sept. 5, it requested the withdrawal of its USO designation and called on the government to secure a future-proof framework.
Financial ambitions presented Wednesday show targets for 2028 of revenue above €4 billion, up from €3.25 billion in 2024.
Normalised EBIT is projected to exceed €175 million, compared with €53 million in 2024, and free cash flow is expected to rise from €12 million in 2024 to more than €75 million. Return on invested capital is projected at over 12%, up from 3.4% in 2024.
PostNL said it will spend about €150 million annually from 2026, with funds directed toward expanding its out-of-home delivery network to 3,600 parcel lockers by the end of 2028 and scaling up AI-driven innovations.
The company also plans to continue dividend payments in line with business performance, with a 70-90% payout ratio of normalised profit, distributed annually in May after the shareholders’ meeting.
The outlook for business segments toward 2028 includes mid-single-digit revenue growth for E-commerce from €1.95 billion in 2024, with EBIT margins improving to about 6.5%.
Platforms is expected to post double-digit growth from €724 million in 2024, with margins rising to about 3%.
Mail revenue is projected to decline at a low single-digit rate from €1.31 billion in 2024, with EBIT margins returning toward break-even if USO costs are reduced.
PostNL also highlighted sustainability and workplace initiatives, including investment in climate-neutral buildings, clean transport, and measures to reduce manual labor.
The company said it aims to improve employee engagement by 5 percentage points by 2028.
Changes to reporting will take effect in 2026, with full-year and half-year reports and trading updates for the first and third quarters.
Source :
https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/postnl-shares-jump-over-8-after-unveiling-2028-strategy-with-major-growth-targets-4241600
