Deutsche Bank AG shares rallied roughly 6% on Thursday following a price-target increase by Morgan Stanley and the announcement of a new collective bargaining agreement for Postbank workers.
Morgan Stanley raised its price target on Deutsche Bank to EUR36 from EUR34 and designated the bank as its preferred pick among European investment banks heading into second-quarter earnings. The research team said it is "turning incrementally more positive" on the lender, pointing to revenue momentum it considers underappreciated and an attractive valuation. Morgan Stanley analysts also said they expect Deutsche Bank to either announce or flag a share buyback in the vicinity of EUR500 million.
Separately, Deutsche Bank confirmed it has reached a collective bargaining agreement with the trade unions ver.di, DBV, komba and DPVKOM that covers Postbank employees. The contract spans 28 months, running from April 1, 2026 to July 31, 2028, and provides for a two-stage salary adjustment. Employees covered by the collective agreements will see monthly remuneration rise by EUR175 beginning July 1, 2026, followed by an additional 2.9% increase effective July 2027.
The agreement also addresses apprentices, who will receive cumulative pay increases totaling EUR150 delivered in multiple steps. Existing arrangements guaranteeing a pathway to permanent employment for apprentices will be extended under the deal. In addition, the contract extends protections against dismissal through the end of 2028 and includes binding location agreements for Postbank branches and other sites.
Deutsche Bank stated that the collective bargaining agreement will not affect the bank's financial outlook.
On the revenue front, Morgan Stanley analysts - including Giulia Aurora Miotto - expect European investment banks to report solid second-quarter results, projecting a 19% rise in equities revenues for the group and an 8% increase in fixed income, currencies and commodities (FICC) revenues. The firm’s comments and the Postbank labor deal both contributed to market interest in the stock.
At the time of these developments, Deutsche Bank was trading at EUR29.7.
Context and implications
The Morgan Stanley upgrade highlights analyst expectations for improving top-line momentum at the bank and signals confidence in Deutsche Bank’s valuation relative to peers. The Postbank collective bargaining agreement clarifies near-term employee cost steps and workplace protections while management says it will not change the bank’s outlook.
Both the analyst call and the labor deal are likely to be watched closely by investors focused on capital allocation - such as potential buybacks - and by stakeholders monitoring costs and operational stability at Postbank.