Performance of the METRO share

In the first 3 months of financial year 2019/20, the stock market performed positively due to signs of easing in the trade dispute between China and the USA, and the MDAX closed at 28,313 points at the end of 2019. The MDAX continued to improve until mid-February 2020, reaching its peak for the year with 29,355 points on 19 February. However, throughout the rest of financial year 2019/20, the stock market was heavily impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. From 20 February onwards, as the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated, it dropped steadily, reaching a low of 17,909 points on 18 March. With the gradual withdrawal of government restrictions, the MDAX recovered and closed at 27,007 points on 30 September 2020. It was thus 4.3% above previous year's figures (30/9/2019: 25,887 points).

As of 30 September 2020, the METRO share finished with a closing price of €8.52 in Xetra trading on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. This represents a decrease of −40% over the previous year. On a total return basis – and thus methodologically comparable with the MDAX – the METRO share recorded a decrease of −35% at the end of financial year 2019/20. The preference share traded at €8.94 on 30 September 2020. The development of the METRO share price in financial year 2019/20 was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Since mid-February, it developed in line with its peer group but at the same time well below the MDAX.

Listed companies in the food wholesale industry have seen their share prices drop considerably more sharply than the stock market as a whole. They also experienced a weaker recovery in the summer months. Scepticism about the future of the hospitality industry and tourism continued to weigh on share prices. Consequently, the entire sector remains heavily dependent on news about Covid-19 and prospects for the hospitality industry. Against this background, the METRO share did not benefit long-term from positive events in the course of the financial year, such as the sale of the majority stake in METRO China and the disposal of the hypermarket business. Even the significant recovery in business development and key financial figures, which began at the end of Q3 and continued into Q4, did not affect the share to the same extent as the key financial figures indicated.

Development of the METRO share (%)