Wood and Company

WOOD & Company is the leading investment bank in Emerging Europe. Founded in 1991 and head-quartered in Prague, our footprint spans the region and touches investors around the globe.

A pioneer in Emerging Europe, WOOD executed many of the first CEE equity trades and landmark investment banking transactions. Our electronic trading platform was the first in the region, and remains the best. We are continually expanding our relevance and reach in these ever-evolving markets.

Our equity market share reflects our stature: 7% in Warsaw, 20% in Bucharest, 16% in Hungary, 40% in Prague and 5% in Vienna. Our distribution is unparalleled, with the largest salesforce in the region, servicing a uniquely diverse investor base.

We couple local expertise with a truly international perspective. With offices on the ground in the region, and in key financial hubs such as London and Milano, we are never far from our clients and we remain at the forefront of what’s afoot in the CEE emerging and frontier landscape.

Lukasz Wachelko ... (+2)
  • Lukasz Wachelko
  • CFA

WOOD Flash - Sphera Franchise Group: 3Q25 soft, but better than we had...

On Monday morning (17 November), Sphera Franchise Group (Sphera) published its 3Q25 results. A webcast with the management was held later in the day. We believe that Sphera has already weathered the worst of the storm. However, the consumer environment, especially in Romania, remains fragile, allowing the company to neutralise, at best, the pressure on profits. We expect the stock to move sideways until consumer demand in Romania stabilises.

Bram Buring ... (+2)
  • Bram Buring
  • CFA

WOOD Flash - Aquila Part Prod Com: trading margin for market share in ...

Last week (13 November) Aquila Part Prod Com (Aquila) reported its 3Q25 results, with a net profit of just RON 4.4m and EBITDA of RON 39.5m (-15% yoy), or an EBITDA margin of 4.4% (161bp below the 3Q24 level and 141bp below 1H25). This was a negative surprise as, in August, the company had guided for an EBITDA margin >6% in 2H25E. During the earnings conference call on 14 November, management noted that the 3Q25 gross margin came under pressure due to price adjustments, especially in the Traditi...

Research Team
  • Research Team

WOOD Daily: MOL HB; PGE PW; BFT PW; H2O RO; SFG RO; Romania macro; DIG...

HEADLINES: • MOL: much to admire, despite the fire (stays BUY) • PGE: decent 3Q25 results - recurring EBITDA at PLN 2.95bn (+6% vs. our expectations), but weak net income NEUTRAL • Benefit Systems: 3Q25 adjusted EBIT up 42% yoy, 15% above our forecast; FY25E cards addition target exceeded by November, FY26 plan of 260k+ new cards POSITIVE • Hidroelectrica: 3Q25 net profit of RON 0.73bn, 14% lower yoy and 5% below our estimate NEGATIVE • Sphera Group: 3Q25 soft, but better than we expected NEUTRA...

Bram Buring ... (+3)
  • Bram Buring
  • CFA
  • Jonathan Lamb

MOL: much to admire, despite the fire (stays BUY)

We maintain our BUY rating on MOL with an updated 12M price target (PT) of HUF 3,730 (from HUF 3,600), offering 21.4% upside. Oil and gas prices have been a headwind in 2025 ytd, but we believe that MOL is less sensitive to this than may be fully recognised. The company is also investing at a slower rate than planned previously, boosting free cash flow. The fire at the Danube refinery in Hungary will reduce production there for a few months, in our view, but margins are strengthening and should ...

Alessio Chiesa ... (+2)
  • Alessio Chiesa
  • Raffaella Tenconi

EME Macro/Strategy: macro all-in-one (3-13 November)

The preliminary reading of 3Q real GDP for Poland confirmed that the economy is seeing steady momentum, implying that GDP growth for the year should be at 3.4-3.5%. In Romania, the economic picture remains mixed, with industrial output improving in September, but also press reports of rising bankruptcies. In Türkiye, we note the positive underlying trends for disinflation ahead, but not yet aligned with the CBRT’s forecasts. In CIS, the short-term inflation risks are pointing upwards, except for...

ResearchPool Subscriptions

Get the most out of your insights

Get in touch