AENA shares on the stock market: falling despite the fact that net profit rose by 27 percent

In the current context of the accelerated recovery of the aviation sector, Aena, the main operator of Spanish airports, reports a notable 27% increase in its net profit for the first nine months of this year compared to the same period last year. This growth comes at a time when travel demand is soaring to historic levels, marking a significant milestone for the company and confirming the strength of its business model in a globalized environment.

Between January and September, Aena generated a net profit of €1,440 million ($1,560 million), mainly due to a 16% increase in revenue, which reached €4,390 million. This growth is driven by strong passenger traffic at the company’s terminals, with a record 283 million users at airports in Spain, Latin America and the UK. The projected increase in traffic during the winter season, especially in southern Europe where tourists are concentrated, presents encouraging prospects for Aena and its ability to attract and manage huge influxes of passengers.

The boom in demand is reflected in both commercial and flight-related revenues. Commercial revenues were up 16% and duty-free and premium sales were up 12%, indicating travelers are willing to spend more on value-added experiences. This indicates a change in consumer behavior, which is leading not only to an increase in passenger traffic, but also to increased spending on additional services at airports.

Despite this strong performance, Aena shares are down slightly, falling 1.46% on the day, in line with the overall correction in the Spanish market, where the IBEX 35 index fell 0.38%. The adjustment could be due to profit-taking by investors, given that the figures are in line with analysts’ forecasts, which expect revenue of about 4.4 billion euros and net profit of about 1.46 billion euros.

With traffic growth and commercial revenues on the horizon, Aena is poised to finish the year with record numbers. However, the operator must maintain effective management to counter possible challenges such as demand variability and competition in the sector, ensuring that growth leads to long-term sustainable profitability.