Markets, Business & Tech Briefing -- Thursday, February 26, 2026

EDP Posts Record 1.15 Billion Euro Profit

Portugal's largest utility reported a 44 percent jump in net profit to 1.15 billion euros for 2025, driven by a dramatic turnaround at EDP Renovaveis. The renewables arm swung from losses of 556 million euros to a profit of 216 million. EDP's board will propose a dividend of 0.205 euros per share, up 2.5 percent.

EDP Renovaveis Launches Scrip Dividend Programme

EDPR announced a flexible shareholder remuneration plan offering 0.13 euros per share, totalling 132 million euros. Investors can choose between cash and new shares. The proposal will go before the annual general meeting on April 13.

Santander Plans to Double Dividend by 2028

At its Investor Day, Banco Santander unveiled a strategic plan targeting over 20 billion euros in profits and more than 210 million clients by 2028. The bank aims to more than double its cash dividend per share compared to 2025, while generating over one billion euros in business value from artificial intelligence.

Mercadona Launches TikTok Presence in Portugal

The Spanish supermarket chain has officially joined TikTok in both Portugal and Spain, responding to 15 million organic mentions on the platform in 2025 alone, including 500,000 from Portuguese users. Content will initially focus on products and company information, managed by internal teams.

Digi Completes First Year in Portugal with 850,000 Active Services

Romanian telecom operator Digi marked its first full year in the Portuguese market with 850,000 active services, underscoring its rapid disruption of the incumbent operators. The low-cost provider has been aggressively expanding its fibre and mobile offerings since entering Portugal.

Savills Launches Residential Campaign in Lisbon and Porto

International property consultancy Savills has launched a new residential marketing campaign targeting buyers in Lisbon and Porto. The move reflects continued international interest in Portuguese real estate, even as the market adjusts to higher financing costs and regulatory changes around short-term rentals.

Tourism Sector Projects 6% Growth at BTL

Industry figures presented at the BTL tourism fair anticipate approximately six percent revenue growth for Portugal's tourism sector in 2026. The projection comes despite global economic uncertainty, underpinned by strong advance bookings and Portugal's continued prominence on best-destination lists.

New Regulatory Periods Improve Returns for Energy Networks

Final terms for new regulatory periods in Portugal and Spain were set in December 2025, improving allowed returns for grid operators and approving higher investment levels. EDP noted that the reset supports increased spending on network modernisation and electrification across the Iberian Peninsula.

EUR/USD and European Markets

The euro continues to trade in a narrow range against the dollar as markets digest the European Central Bank's latest policy signals. European equities remain supported by strong corporate earnings, with the PSI index tracking broader continental trends. Banking stocks, led by BCP, have been among the stronger performers on Lisbon's exchange in recent sessions.