Bastian Prockner
Henkel raises sales target after strong quarter
Thanks to a surprisingly strong third quarter, consumer goods and adhesives manufacturer Henkel is more optimistic about the year as a whole. The board of directors raised its sales forecast and is now targeting an organic sales increase of 3.0 to 4.0 percent in 2026, as the Düsseldorf DAX group announced on Thursday. He had previously promised 1.5 to 3.5 percent. The adjusted return on sales should be around 15 percent, which clarifies the previous range of 14.5 to 16.0 percent.
Both the adhesives business (Adhesive Technologies) and the consumer goods division (Consumer Brands) recorded high growth rates. According to initial calculations, sales increased organically by 6.5 percent to 5.7 billion euros. The growth was supported by all regions. Price increases of 5.4 percent and a slight increase in volumes of 1.1 percent also contributed. The full quarterly report is scheduled to be published on November 10th.
Bastian Prockner
Engine manufacturer MTU is more optimistic for 2026 thanks to good business
After significant growth in the first nine months, the engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines is more optimistic about its sales for the year as a whole. Due to high demand, especially for maintenance in civil aviation, and a favorable dollar exchange rate, the DAX group raised its sales forecast for 2026 on Thursday. “We assume that we will achieve sales of 9.5 to 9.7 billion euros in 2026,” explained CFO Katja Garcia Vila. Previously, MTU had expected adjusted sales of between 9.2 and 9.7 billion euros.
Bastian Prockner
Chip manufacturer STMicro doubles operating profit
Strong demand from AI data centers and satellite operators gave chipmaker STMicroelectronics a jump in profits in the third quarter. Adjusted operating income rose 98 percent year over year to $429 million, the company said Thursday. The group thus exceeded the expectations of analysts, who had expected $400.5 million, according to LSEG data. Sales rose by almost 18 percent to $3.76 billion. STMicro forecast sales of $4.15 billion for the current fourth quarter. Analysts expect $4.10 billion.
Bastian Prockner
Renault increases sales thanks to electric cars - but sales are falling
Fewer cars sold, but more implemented: The French car manufacturer Renault achieved a surprising increase in sales in the third quarter thanks to its popular electric models. Currency-adjusted revenue rose by 1.4 percent to 11.6 billion euros, the company announced on Thursday. Analysts had expected a slight decline. Nevertheless, sales growth was lower than in the first half of the year. This is unlikely to be enough to reassure investors worried about intense competition from a wave of Chinese suppliers in Renault's core markets.
This is reflected in sales: with 497,799 vehicles sold, Renault missed the previous year's figure by six percent. While the company reported strong demand for electric vehicles - such as the electric Renault 5 - the board also pointed out the increasing competitive pressure. CFO Duncan Minto spoke of “noticeable pressure from Chinese brands in Europe”, which was also affecting the budget brand Dacia. Investors' concerns about increasing competition are reflected in the share price, which has already lost more than a quarter this year. For the full year, Minto confirmed its target for the operating margin, which should be around 5.5 percent of sales.
Bastian Prockner
ING announces billion-dollar share buyback and wants to cut jobs
The major Dutch bank ING has announced a new share buyback with a volume of 1.65 billion euros. In addition, an additional cash distribution of 250 million euros should flow to shareholders in January 2027, the institute announced on Thursday. In the third quarter, however, the bank missed analysts' profit expectations. Although net profit rose by 3.5 percent to 1.85 billion euros, experts had expected an average of 1.97 billion. As part of a reorganization of its corporate customer business, ING also announced the reduction of around 400 jobs worldwide.
Bastian Prockner
High costs are depressing the margins of brewing company Anheuser-Busch
The world's largest brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev met profit expectations in the third quarter, but is increasingly feeling the pressure of rising costs. The maker of brands such as Budweiser and Stella Artois increased organic sales by 4.9 percent, exceeding forecasts, the company announced on Thursday. Including currency effects, revenue climbed to $16.5 billion. Adjusted operating profit (Ebitda) increased by 3.9 percent to almost six billion dollars. However, due to higher expenses, the operating margin shrank by 34 basis points to 36.1 percent.
Bastian Prockner
Wacker Chemie doubles operating profit
The specialty chemicals group Wacker Chemie earned significantly more in the third quarter thanks to its savings program and almost doubled its operating profit. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) rose to 217 million euros after 112 million euros in the same period last year, as the company announced on Thursday in Munich. The bottom line is that the company returned to the black and posted a profit of 87 million euros after a loss of 82 million euros a year ago.
Quarterly sales rose by nine percent to 1.47 billion euros. All business areas have grown, explained Wacker. This is primarily due to higher prices and partly to increased sales volumes.
Bastian Prockner
VW reports billions in loss in third quarter
Volkswagen slipped deep into the red in the third quarter. The car company announced that consolidated earnings after taxes were minus 5.82 billion euros in the months from July to September.
Bastian Prockner
Adidas expects growth again in Europe in the final spurt of the year
The Franconian sporting goods group Adidas wants to get back on track for growth in the Christmas business in Europe. The number two on the world market announced on Thursday in Herzogenaurach that high single-digit growth is expected on the continent in the fourth quarter. In the third quarter, Europe was the only region in which sales fell by four percent. In all other markets, Adidas increased business with double-digit growth rates.
Adidas had already given key data for the third quarter last week and raised its operating profit forecast for the current year to 2.5 billion euros from 2.3 billion euros. "With everything we have achieved so far this year and what is still in our pipeline, we are confident that we will achieve sales growth of almost 2.5 billion euros for the year as a whole and increase operating profit to around 2.5 billion euros. We are extremely well positioned for 2026 - and also for 2027," said CEO Björn Gulden.
Bastian Prockner
E-prescription boom in Germany drives Redcare's profits
Dutch online pharmacy Redcare Pharmacy continues to benefit greatly from the introduction of e-prescription in Germany and has recorded a jump in profits in the third quarter. The adjusted operating result (Ebitda) rose by 68 percent to around 29 million euros, as the parent company of “Shop Apotheke” announced on Thursday. The bottom line was a net profit of one million euros for the second time in a row. The company confirmed the annual forecast, which was only raised in September.
Group sales climbed by 18 percent to 847 million euros in the past quarter. The main driver was the business with prescription drugs in Germany, which increased by 56 percent to 197 million euros. The adjusted Ebitda margin improved to 3.4 (previous year: 2.4) percent.
Bastian Prockner
Kion lowers annual forecast due to weak demand for forklifts
Due to weak business in the forklift and warehouse technology division, the industrial logistics group Kion has lowered its forecast for the current year. The company actually recorded increases in sales and operating profit in the first nine months thanks to a flourishing business with automation solutions. Group sales rose by 3.9 percent to 8.52 billion euros from January to September. The adjusted operating result (EBIT) improved by almost ten percent to 632.5 million euros, which corresponds to a margin of 7.4 percent.
For the year as a whole, Kion now expects sales of between 11.45 and 11.75 billion euros. Management had previously forecast revenues in a range of 11.525 to 12.025 billion euros. The group also lowered its expectations for operating profit: adjusted EBIT is now expected to be between 815 and 875 million euros in 2026. In July, the company was still expecting 880 to 980 million euros.
Bastian Prockner
Alzchem confirms forecast – specialty chemicals are growing strongly
The Bavarian specialty chemicals group Alzchem continues to benefit from strong demand for the muscle building agent creatine and explosives. Sales rose by four percent to 443.8 million euros in the first nine months, as the company announced on Thursday in Trostberg. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) climbed by eight percent to 93.2 million euros, and the operating margin improved to 21.0 (20.3) percent. For the entire year, Alzchem continues to expect sales of 600 million euros and an Ebitda of 126 million euros, with an Ebitda margin of 21.0 percent.
Alzchem is the only European manufacturer of creatine, which is particularly popular as a dietary supplement among athletes. Alzchem is also expanding the production of nitroguanidine for ammunition. The company explained that the first sales from the additional production line in Germany are expected in the fourth quarter.
Sabrina Frangos
Continuing trend towards premium tariffs: T-Mobile with strong figures
A surprisingly significant increase in customers and the growing popularity of high-priced tariffs helped T-Mobile achieve quarterly results above market expectations. “We have enormous growth potential and are just getting started,” said Srini Gopalan, the head of the US mobile operator, on Wednesday. Based on the figures presented, he specified the annual targets. The numbers met with a cautious response from investors. The company's shares rose almost one percent in after-hours trading on Wall Street. In the past quarter, T-Mobile gained 274,000 contract customers. While this was more than analysts predicted, it was significantly less than AT&T and Verizon. In recent years, Deutsche Telekom's US subsidiary has attracted more new users than its two competitors combined.
However, T-Mobile's average revenue per user has increased by four percent in recent months. As a result, adjusted operating profit increased by eleven percent to $9.6 billion. Earnings per share rose by 34 percent to $3.22 and free cash flow rose by five percent to $5.1 billion. The company benefits from its combined landline and mobile phone offerings. These can also be expanded to include subscriptions to streaming services such as Netflix.
Sabrina Frangos
FedEx exceeds expectations with annual outlook – margin concerns weigh on shares
The US logistics group FedEx has given a surprisingly optimistic forecast for 2026 after a jump in profits in the past quarter. The Memphis company expects adjusted earnings of between $18.00 and $18.60 per share, FedEx said Wednesday. Analysts on average had expected $17.73, according to LSEG data. In the third quarter, adjusted earnings rose from $2.93 to $3.74 per share, an increase of 28 percent. Nevertheless, the shares fell by almost four percent in after-hours trading. The reason for this was a decline in the operating margin in the important US express business, which shrank from 6.8 percent in the previous year to 6.6 percent.
The group attributed the improved quarterly results to higher earnings per package, increased shipment volume and ongoing cost savings. However, these positive effects were partially offset by additional transportation costs, higher wages and salaries and changes in US customs guidelines. “We continue to rely on strict operational discipline to reduce our operating costs while focusing on profitable growth,” explained CEO Raj Subramaniam. FedEx switched its reporting to the calendar year with the most recent quarter.
Tim Seckel
Airbus keeps outlook stable
The world's largest aircraft manufacturer Airbus continues to expect a record year for 2026 despite weaker summer business. As planned, around 870 commercial aircraft will find their way to customers, as the European DAX company announced on Wednesday after the stock market closed. That would be slightly more than the 863 jets from the peak year of 2019, the year before the corona pandemic.
However, aircraft deliveries, sales and adjusted operating profit (adjusted EBIT) fell in the third quarter. Nevertheless, the adjusted operating profit for the full year is expected to rise to around 7.5 billion euros as planned.
Alisa Svoboda
Opel parent Stellantis is slipping back into the red
The car company Stellantis posted another loss in the third quarter. The bottom line was a deficit of 453 million euros, as Volkswagen's rival announced in Amsterdam. A year earlier, the Opel parent company had reported a loss ten times as high due to high special charges. However, the company was profitable in the first six months of this year.
Before interest and taxes as well as special items, there was only an operating profit of 256 million euros in the quarter - albeit almost three times as much as in the weak period of the previous year. In addition, around 4 billion euros of free financial resources flowed out of the industrial business - i.e. excluding financial services - in the three months.
In the third quarter, sales of the group with Italian, French and American roots (including Fiat, Peugeot, Chrysler) increased by one percent.
