Austrian economy grows 0.3% in Q2, but marks ninth straight annual decline Investing.com -- Austria’s economy expanded by 0.3% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, according to preliminary calculations published Friday by Statistics Austria. The quarterly growth figure exceeded the preliminary estimate of 0.1% released a month ago by the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO). Despite this quarterly improvement, the Austrian gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 0.1% on an annual basis, marking the ninth consecutive quarter of year-over-year decline. The GDP components showed mixed performance across the Austrian economy. Private consumption decreased by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter, while public consumption fell by 0.1%. In contrast, gross investment emerged as a bright spot, growing by 0.7% compared to the previous quarter. Exports made only a modest contribution to growth, increasing by 0.1% from the first quarter. Imports declined by 0.6%, representing the first quarterly decrease in four quarters. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C. 3rd party Ad. Not an offer or recommendation by Investing.com. See disclosure here or remove ads. Which stocks should you consider in your very next trade? The best opportunities often hide in plain sight—buried among thousands of stocks you'd never have time to research individually. That's why smart investors use our Stock Screener with 50+ predefined screens and 160+ customizable filters to surface hidden gems instantly. For example, the Piotroski's Picks method averages 23% annual returns by focusing on financial strength, and you can get it as a standalone screen. Momentum Masters catches stocks gaining serious traction, while Blue-Chip Bargains finds undervalued giants. With screens for dividends, growth, value, and more, you'll discover opportunities others miss. Our current favorite screen is Under $10/share, which is great for discovering stocks trading under $10 with recent price momentum showing some very impressive returns!

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Austrian central bank expects country will barely avoid recession in 2025 VIENNA (Reuters) -Austria’s economy will grow slightly this year, avoiding what would be a third year of recession in a row, the Austrian National Bank said in its half-yearly economic forecast, predicting gross domestic product will rise by 0.2% this year. Economic think-tanks including Wifo, which provides the government with forecasts the budget is based on, recently predicted the economy would contract again this year. "Economic development in Austria will remain fraught in 2025. At the start of the year, the economy hit its low point after a 2-1/2-year recession. However, the U.S. import tariffs and their effects will only start to be felt in the coming months," he added.

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Verbund downgraded to “underperform” amid tax, hydro, and EPS risks Investing.com -- Verbund (VIE:VERB), an Austrian energy company, faces a downgrade in its stock rating due to a combination of risk factors by analysts at Bernstein in a note dated Friday. The brokerage downgraded Verbund to "underperform" from "market-perform," and reduced the price target to €55.30 from €73.50. The analysts cited several concerns, including the extension of a windfall tax in Austria, lower expected returns from flexibility products, and questions about the profitability of new renewable energy investments in Spain. A dry start to the year has also negatively impacted the company’s hydropower generation, a key part of its business, the analysts said. "We believe Verbund is currently facing an accumulation of risk overhangs," the analysts said. The analysts also believe there is a high risk that Verbund’s full-year 2025 guidance will be lowered. The current consensus estimates are also likely to be reduced, they said. Verbund confirmed that its hydro assets are dealing with a very dry start to the year, with a low hydro coefficient that led to a €40 million electricity buyback in the first quarter of 2025, the brokerage said. This trend continued into April and May, according to the analysts. The Austrian government’s extension of the windfall tax on the energy sector adds further financial pressure. The new coalition aims to collect €200 million per year from the energy sector until 2030. While several parameters are still unclear, Verbund expects the levy to cost it between €50 million and €100 million for 2025. The analysts also noted the company’s concern about a potential lowering of the levy threshold in the future. In its first-quarter 2025 results, Verbund adjusted its EBITDA guidance to a range of €2.7 billion to €3.2 billion, compared to the previous guidance of €2.7 billion to €3.3 billion. The Bernstein analysts’ estimate is €2.66 billion. The company also adjusted its group net result guidance to a range of €1.35 billion to €1.70 billion, compared to the prior range of €1.35 billion to €1.75 billion. The Bernstein analysts’ estimate is €1.37 billion. The analysts said they updated their model to reflect the market-to-market value of the power-price curve, the latest data on hydropower, and the impact of rolling the model forward by one year following the 2024 results. As a result, they reduced their earnings-per-share estimates for 2025, 2026, and 2024 by 18%, 10%, and 15%, respectively. They also cut their target price by 25% to €55.3. Should you invest $1,000 in VERB right now? Don't miss out on the next big opportunity! Stay ahead of the curve with ProPicks AI – 6 model portfolios powered by AI stock picks with a stellar performance in 2024. Unlock ProPicks to find out

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