Higher costs erode Nissan profits
The operating profit of the Japanese car manufacturer Nissan almost completely collapsed in the second quarter. Higher costs for raw materials and components as well as weak sales figures in China weighed on the result, the company announced on Wednesday. In addition, there was no relief from the previous year due to lower emissions costs in the USA. Operating profit fell by 96 percent from July to September compared to the same period last year to 2.1 billion yen (twelve million euros). According to LSEG data, analysts on average had expected 60 billion yen.
Despite the slump, Nissan is sticking to its full-year operating profit forecast of 200 billion yen. The group pointed to the dynamics in the car market in Japan and North America. China, on the other hand, remains difficult. According to the latest forecast from the Chinese Automobile Association, car sales there will fall below 19 million for the first time since 2014.
Fuel cells bring a jump in profits for Ukraine
Driven by a major order from Ukraine, fuel cell manufacturer SFC Energy has multiplied its profit in the first nine months and raised its forecast again. Sales rose by around 29 percent to 133 million euros, as the company announced on Wednesday. The adjusted operating result (Ebitda) even tripled to almost 34 million euros and the adjusted EBIT increased fivefold.
The third quarter was the strongest in the company's history with sales of over 50 (previous year: 29.1) million euros.
However, the management board expects a lower contribution to earnings in the final quarter, as the product mix will once again be more dominated by civil applications and higher investments are planned. However, Podesser raised his earnings forecast again for the year as a whole: He now expects an adjusted Ebitda of between 36 and 38 million euros. He confirmed the sales forecast of 166 to 175 million euros.
Austria's steel group Voestalpine cuts forecast
The steel and technology group Voestalpine increased its profit in the first half of 2026/27 thanks to a special effect. The Austrian company announced on Wednesday that the operating result (Ebitda) climbed by 17.1 percent to 846 million euros in the period from April to September. The operating result (EBIT) increased by 36 percent to 470 million euros. A special effect of around 100 million euros from the sale of the Böhler Profil subsidiary contributed to the profit. Sales stagnated at 7.7 (7.6) billion euros. However, the group lowered the upper end of its forecast range for the entire 2026/27 financial year (as of the end of March) and now expects an Ebitda of between 1.6 and 1.7 billion euros. Up to 1.85 billion euros had previously been promised.
Brenntag makes more sales and profits
After growth in the third quarter, the chemicals trader Brenntag is becoming a little more confident about the full year 2026. Sales in the three months to the end of September climbed by 14.7 percent year-on-year to almost 4.3 billion euros thanks to higher prices, as the DAX group announced on Wednesday in Essen. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (operating Ebitda) increased by 16.5 percent to 385 million euros. The company's austerity measures also contributed to the increase. The group now sees the earnings target, which was increased again in the summer, at the upper end of the last targeted range of 1.35 to 1.45 billion euros.
The bottom line is that shareholders received a profit of 129 million euros in the quarter. In the previous year, Brenntag reported 113 million euros here. The key figures were roughly in line with expectations.
Swiss Life reports more business
The life insurer Swiss Life received more premiums and fees in the first nine months of 2026. Premium income rose by eight percent in local currency to 17.4 billion francs, the Swiss group announced on Wednesday. The drivers here were high one-off premiums in the occupational pension business in the home market. Fee income also increased in local currency by eight percent to 2.04 billion francs.
The company's own advisory channels, its own and third-party products and services, and the asset management division Swiss Life Asset Managers contributed to the growth. In the German market, fee income including the contribution from the Telis Group grew by 17 percent to 744 million euros in the third quarter. CEO Matthias Aellig explained that with the “Swiss Life 2027” corporate program, the insurer is well on track to achieve its financial goals.
Bilfinger earns significantly less due to customer reluctance - orders are increasing
The industrial service provider Bilfinger also felt the reluctance of customers in the third quarter due to the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf. “The year 2026 presents Bilfinger with challenges,” said company boss Thomas Schulz on Wednesday when presenting the business figures, according to the announcement. The manager confirmed the annual targets that were only capped in September. With the forecast reduction, the Mannheim Group also launched a savings program in which up to 1,500 jobs are to be cut.
In the third quarter, sales fell by one percent to 1.36 billion euros. Operating earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation on enterprise value (Ebita) fell by 23 percent to 63 million euros. The corresponding margin fell from 5.8 to 4.6 percent. The company attributed the decline primarily to ongoing underutilization, lower call-offs for complex, higher-priced work and an unfavorable product mix. The bottom line is that profits shrank by 21 percent to 43 million euros. The company roughly met analysts' expectations in terms of sales and operating results. Order intake increased by a quarter to 1.7 billion euros.
Shelly Group increases profits significantly and confirms forecast
The smart home specialist Shelly Group has confirmed its annual forecast after a jump in sales and profits in the third quarter. In the first nine months, sales increased by almost 30 percent to 112.8 million euros, the SDax company based in Sofia, Bulgaria, announced on Tuesday. The operating result (EBIT) increased by a good quarter to 27.5 million euros.
Growth accelerated in the third quarter, which the company attributed, among other things, to the expansion of its sales channels and network of installers. For the full year 2026, Shelly continues to expect sales of between 195 and 205 million euros and an EBIT of between 47 and 52 million euros.
Sports shoe manufacturer On exceeds expectations thanks to high demand
The Swiss sports shoe manufacturer On exceeded sales expectations in the third quarter and clarified its annual forecast thanks to the high demand for its products such as the cloud shoes. As On announced on Tuesday, the company, in which Swiss tennis star Roger Federer has a stake, now expects a gross profit margin of around 67.5 percent in 2026 - or around 66 percent without US tariff refunds. Previously the forecast was at least 65 percent.
Sales rose to 931.4 million Swiss francs from July to September, exceeding the 929.3 million francs expected by analysts, according to LSEG data. New product launches and celebrity collaborations drove demand for its premium footwear and apparel collections. The French footballer Kylian Mbappé has been an advertising partner of On since September. However, Mbappé drew criticism last month with comments about the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, which weighed on On's shares.
Henkel has a good start to the quarter and is becoming even more optimistic
After significant growth in the third quarter, the consumer goods group Henkel got off to a good start in the final quarter. If this development continues, Henkel sees a “very good chance” of achieving the upper end of its recently raised sales forecast, said CEO Carsten Knobel in an interview with analysts on Tuesday. Both divisions developed well. Henkel also expects growth in the coming year.
The Düsseldorf-based company only raised its sales forecast at the end of October and is now targeting an organic sales increase in a range of 3.0 to 4.0 percent in 2026. Knobel had previously promised 1.5 to 3.5 percent. The adjusted return on sales should be around 15 percent, making the previous range of 14.5 to 16.0 percent more precise.
Jungheinrich says goodbye to its 10 billion sales target
The Hamburg forklift manufacturer Jungheinrich has planned too much for 2030. On Tuesday, the company withdrew the sales and earnings targets it had set last year. Sales will only increase to seven to eight billion euros by 2030, and the return on sales before interest and taxes (EBIT margin) will be between eight and nine percent. Jungheinrich had previously targeted sales of ten billion euros with an EBIT margin of ten percent.
The company had already reduced its targets for the current year in July. Since then, incoming orders of 5.5 to 6.1 billion euros and sales of 5.3 to 5.9 billion euros are expected. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) are expected to rise to between 340 and 400 million euros.
Vodafone Germany: Sales are stagnating, 2,300 jobs are being lost
Vodafone Germany only increased sales by 0.4 percent to around 5.5 billion euros in the first half of the year. The operating result (EbitdaAL) fell by 3.2 percent to 2.1 billion euros, among other things due to higher energy, building and technology costs. The entire increase in sales came from the first quarter, there was a loss in the second quarter. By March 2029, around 2,300 of the approximately 12,000 jobs are expected to be eliminated, i.e. almost one in five.
Porsche SE is slipping deep into the red due to VW write-offs
VW's major shareholder Porsche SE slipped deep into the red in the first nine months of the 2026 financial year due to a billion-dollar write-off on its Volkswagen stake. Group earnings after taxes amounted to minus 2.8 billion euros after a profit of 1.2 billion euros in the same period last year, as the holding company announced on Tuesday.
Honda raises forecast – electric cars are a burden
Honda raised its profit forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2027 to 780 billion yen. Earnings continue to be weighed down by a 2.5 trillion yen writedown on electric cars that Honda had to take earlier this year.
Boom in chip business inspires Jenoptik – profit target raised
Inspired by a boom in orders from the chip industry, the technology group Jenoptik has raised its profit forecast for the current year and expects an Ebitda margin of around 22 percent.
Softbank slips into the red due to AI concerns
The Japanese technology investor Softbank reported a net loss of 1.12 trillion yen in the second quarter, weighed down by falling prices at Arm, Intel and Coupang and a loss at the Vision Fund.
