FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Investors in a good mood rewarded the improved prospects for Siemens Healthineers on Thursday. The medical technology company's shares reached their highest level since June 2022 and, as the strongest stock in the leading Dax index, last gained 6.9 percent to 52.60 euros. The Dax was also clearly on the upswing, gaining 1.4 percent.

The latest quarterly figures of the medical technology company probably played a somewhat lesser role in the share price increase than the outlook for further business development. One trader described the figures as mixed, with better sales but poorer profits. The outlook had not changed for the time being, which he considered positive.

Analyst David Adlington of JPMorgan wrote in a recent research note that while Healthineers' numbers were another weak one in the sector, the weakness was ultimately largely due to supply chain issues. However, the supply chain situation should improve from here on out. Adlington continues to vote "Overweight" with a target price of 62.10 euros, and thus still sees 18 percent upside for the share price.

The management around CEO Bernd Montag also expressed optimism for the further development, referring among other things to a robust order intake in the first quarter./ajx/jha/