March 14, 2025 (EIRNS)—Europe’s arms makers are profiting hugely from the militarization of Europe. Yesterday, the New York Times ran a big story on Germany’s Rheinmetall which expects to profit handsomely from the militarization of Europe. “An era of rearmament has begun,” Armin Papperger, the chief executive of Rheinmetall, said March 12 on an earnings call with analysts. “It brings us growth prospects for the coming years that we have never experienced before.”
The company, the Times writes, reported that its defense business grew 30% last year, contributing to sales that reached €9.8 billion euros, or $10.6 billion. Rheinmetall is projecting sales in 2025 will grow as much as 40%, driven by a pledge from European leaders to increase military spending, after the Trump administration made clear that defending Europe was no longer a priority. Rheinmetall’s stock has soared more than 1,000% since Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine in 2022. Shareholders, roughly half of whom are based in the United States or Britain, will receive a dividend of €8.10 per share for 2024, compared with €5.70 the year before, the company said. BlackRock is reported to be Rheinmetall’s largest shareholder, owning 5.52% of Rheinmetall’s shares outstanding in 2023.