VIENNA, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Austrian lender Erste Group’s fourth-quarter net profit beat forecasts on Friday as the bank cited a reduction in non-performing loans and a positive economic trend in its markets, proposing a dividend at the high end of its guidance. Net profit in the last three months of 2015 rose to 204 million euros ($225.5 million) from 42 million a year earlier, compared with an average forecast of 172 million euros in a Reuters poll of analysts. ($1 = 0.9048 euros) (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Kirsti Knolle)
Erste Group - 4Q15 net profit of €204m ($225.5m), up from €42m YoY, beating estimates as the bank cited a reduction in non-performing loans and a positive economic trend in its markets, proposing a dividend at the high end of its guidance.