SATO Corporation Interim Report 1 January–30 September 2025: Portfolio investment boosts SATO’s profitable growth

Core Viewpoint - SATO Corporation's interim report for January to September 2025 highlights a challenging rental market with an oversupply, yet the company continues to pursue a profitable growth strategy through acquisitions and maintaining a stable occupancy rate [4][6]. Financial Performance - For the period of January to September 2025, net sales reached EUR 235.5 million, an increase from EUR 227.0 million in the same period of 2024 [5][8]. - Net rental income was EUR 166.2 million, up from EUR 160.5 million year-on-year [5]. - Profit before taxes decreased to EUR 80.3 million from EUR 83.5 million [5]. - The economic occupancy rate was 95.2%, slightly down from 95.4% in the previous year [5][6]. - Earnings per share were EUR 0.76, compared to EUR 0.84 in the same period last year [5]. Investment and Property Management - SATO acquired nearly 1,000 apartments, increasing its total rental homes to nearly 27,000 [4][5]. - Housing investments amounted to EUR 219.4 million, significantly higher than EUR 31.7 million in the same period of 2024 [5][8]. - The average rent per square meter increased to EUR 18.51 from EUR 18.38 year-on-year [6][8]. Market Conditions - The rental market remains competitive, with over 50% of households in major cities like Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku living in rental homes [7]. - The economic uncertainty and high levels of unsold new homes are impacting the construction recovery [12]. - A recent survey indicates a growing appeal for rental housing across all age groups, viewed as a safer and more flexible option in uncertain economic conditions [15]. Sustainability and Recognition - SATO's sustainability management received top recognition in the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), ranking first among over a thousand evaluated European real estate companies [9][7]. Outlook - The economic growth in Finland is projected to be slow, with a forecast of only 0.3% growth for 2025, but expected to improve to 1.3% in 2026 and 1.7% in 2027 [11]. - The imbalance in the rental market is anticipated to be corrected by low newbuild construction rates and urbanization trends [14].