Event Review: Europe’s Turn – From 2025 to 2026, resilience and challenging markets
After an eventful year in which European markets emphatically demonstrated their resilience, clients, investors and partners came together for Europe’s Turn — a year-end meeting in which the Sustainable Dividends team, Simon van Veen and Arjen Dibbets, looked back on 2025 and ahead to the opportunities of 2026. With additional commentary from Thijs Knaap, Chief Economist at APG Asset Management, the afternoon was devoted to reflection, realism and future-oriented confidence.
2025 proved to be a year in which European companies once again demonstrated their ability to navigate volatile conditions. Despite geopolitical uncertainty and fluctuating inflationary pressures, the fundamentals of many European companies remained solid. For the Sustainable Dividends Value Fund, it was a period of carefully balancing risk and return, with a focus on dividend growth and sustainability.
Sustainable Dividends
During their presentation, Simon van Veen and Arjen Dibbets took attendees through the key performances, choices and insights of the past year. They emphasised how European value stocks — often stable, undervalued and with strong cash flows — played an important role in keeping the portfolio result stable.
Macroeconomic perspective
Thijs Knaap, Chief Economist at APG Asset Management, placed these developments in a macroeconomic perspective. He emphasised that Europe is in a stronger position than is often assumed, although consistent policy and innovation remain necessary to maintain that momentum.
A valuable afternoon
The meeting concluded with informal drinks, where participants could chat, exchange ideas and explore the opportunities for the coming year in more depth.
Europe’s Turn offered not only a look back, but above all a look ahead — optimistic, realistic and with an eye for the long term.
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The fund
Sustainable Dividends offers an investment fund that invests in a well-diversified portfolio of European companies at the forefront of the sustainability transition. Our focus is on a disciplined investment process, while applying both qualitative and quantitative financial criteria.