Jena, March 25, 2026 – The technology group Jenoptik, based in Jena, will pay its shareholders a higher dividend for the past 2025 financial year, despite a decline in the company’s net profit. The stock market reacted to the final figures and the announcement of a new CEO with significant price gains.
- Company: Jenoptik AG (Headquarters in Jena)
- Dividend 2025: 0.40 Euro per share (+ 2 cents compared to the previous year)
- Profit 2025: 74.2 million Euro (- 21.2 percent)
- New CEO: Dominic Dorfner (taking office by October at the latest)
- Outlook 2026: Growth path and increasing demand for semiconductor equipment expected
Stock market celebrates annual figures and outlook
Despite a profit decline of 21.2 percent to 74.2 million Euro, Jenoptik surprised the markets positively. Investors are to receive 40 cents per share, which corresponds to an increase of two cents compared to the previous year. Analysts had previously expected a lower payout on average. The key data published in February was confirmed on Wednesday during the presentation of the final annual figures in Jena.
The group’s share, which only recently returned to the MDax, reacted on Wednesday afternoon with a price jump of around 13 percent to 28.92 Euro. Since the beginning of 2026, the price gains of the Jenoptik share have already totaled approximately 48 percent.
Leadership change and return to growth path
The personnel announcement at the top of the company, made the previous day, also met with a positive response. Dominic Dorfner will take over the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) by October at the latest. Industry experts, including Michael Kuhn from Deutsche Bank, spoke praisefully about the upcoming change and the expertise of the new leader.
For the current year 2026, the Executive Board expressed optimism and specified the annual targets. After the declines in 2025, the technology group is aiming for noticeable growth again. Despite ongoing macroeconomic and political uncertainties, a significant recovery in demand is expected – particularly in the lucrative semiconductor equipment business area, which is considered one of the most important drivers for the company.
Background: The importance of Jenoptik for Jena
Jenoptik AG is one of the most important industrial employers in Thüringen and a central pillar of the so-called „Optics Valley“ in Jena. Following the Peaceful Revolution, the company emerged from the former VEB Carl Zeiss Jena and today represents the successful structural change of the East German high-tech industry. In addition to its enormous economic impact, the city of Jena benefits significantly from trade tax revenues and the group’s close technological cooperation with the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität and local research institutes at the Beutenberg-Campus.
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.