Lion Finance Group PLC (LSE:BGEO) reported strong fourth-quarter results on Wednesday, with adjusted profit rising to GEL 619.3 million, a 22.7% increase year on year, supported by solid loan expansion and growing fee and commission income across its operations in Georgia and Armenia.
For the full year 2025, adjusted profit totaled GEL 2,192.8 million, representing a 20.9% annual increase.
The company announced a quarterly dividend of GEL 2.75 per share, lifting total dividends for 2025 to GEL 10.50 per share, up 16.7% compared with the previous year. The board also authorised an additional GEL 53.5 million share buyback programme, bringing total repurchases for 2025 to GEL 203 million.
Shares climbed 7.08% following the results announcement.
Operating income for the fourth quarter grew 16.4% year on year to GEL 1,201.3 million, driven primarily by higher net interest income generated in both Georgian and Armenian markets.
Non-interest income increased 10.1% year on year to GEL 405.4 million, supported by strong fee and commission income growth of 33.8% within Georgian Financial Services and 34.1% within Armenian Financial Services.
As of 31 December 2025, the group’s loan portfolio reached GEL 40,065.7 million, marking a 19.7% increase year on year in constant currency terms. Client deposits totaled GEL 38,630.0 million, reflecting growth of 17.3% on the same basis.
“2025 was a year of strong performance for the Group, marked by robust growth in our core operations and notable momentum in Armenia,” said CEO Archil Gachechiladze.
“We delivered a record GEL 2.2 billion in Group net profit before one-offs, a return on average equity of 28.4%, and a 21.6% growth in our book value per share.”
The group reported an adjusted return on average equity of 28.4% for the full year and 30.1% in the fourth quarter. Asset quality remained strong, with the cost of credit risk ratio improving to 0.3% in the fourth quarter from 0.5% in the same period a year earlier.
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