ALBIS Leasing reports record Q1 new business of €24.7m

ALBIS Leasing AG has reported a strong start to 2026, with new business reaching a record level for the first quarter as its core segment continued to underpin growth and profitability.

The Hamburg-based leasing specialist said new business volume rose 5% year-on-year to €24.7 million in the first three months of 2026, up from €23.5 million in the same period last year. The figure also surpassed the €24.2 million recorded in the final quarter of 2025, marking the highest first-quarter performance in the company’s history.

Alongside volume growth, ALBIS reported a notable improvement in margins. The new business margin increased to 20.0%, compared with 18.8% a year earlier, while the absolute margin rose 12.1% to €4.9 million.

The company attributed the improvement to a stronger portfolio mix and a strategic focus on higher-margin segments, particularly its core retail/manufacturers business.

The core segment delivered significant gains in both volume and profitability, more than compensating for weaker performance elsewhere. ALBIS said its e-bike brokerage division experienced a slower start to the year due to prolonged cold weather and subdued demand, while business with EDEKA merchants also lagged.

This shift in activity led to a greater weighting toward the core business, boosting overall margins and reinforcing the company’s strategic direction.

Sascha Lerchl, CEO of ALBIS, said the results highlight the resilience of the group’s model despite broader economic headwinds.

“Despite the persistently difficult macroeconomic environment and the ongoing reluctance to invest in the German economy, ALBIS has made a successful start to the 2026 financial year,” he said.

“This shows that we are on the right track with our strategic focus on the profitable small-ticket business as well as the core business.”

He added that concentrating on small-scale financing and clearly defined growth areas has created “a robust business model with attractive margins.”

Looking ahead, ALBIS expects new business volumes and margins to remain broadly stable over the remainder of 2026, in line with 2025 levels, although it cautioned that macroeconomic volatility could still influence performance.

The company also reaffirmed its expectation that full-year 2025 earnings before tax, under IFRS, will fall within its forecast range of €4.5 million to €5.75 million. Audited results for 2025 are due to be published in early May.