Finance
Schaeffler provides conservative 2026 outlook amid challenging environment
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 3, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 3, 2026
Quick Summary
Schaeffler forecasts 2026 revenue of €22.5–24.5 billion and adjusted operating margin of 3.5–5.5%, both below consensus, citing persistent headwinds in auto and industrial markets. The firm remains cautious amid tough conditions.
Schaeffler forecasts conservative 2026 outlook, shares slump
Schaeffler's 2026 Financial Guidance and Market Impact
By Amir Orusov and Simon Ferdinand Eibach
March 3 (Reuters) - German machine and car parts maker Schaeffler on Tuesday provided a conservative 2026 revenue and profit outlook, citing a challenging environment in global automotive production, sending its shares down 18%.
Stock Performance
The stock was on track for its worst day since March 2020.
Financial Projections for 2026
The company expects its revenue to be between 22.5 billion euros and 24.5 billion ($26.25-$28.58 billion) compared with a consensus estimate of 24.03 billion. Adjusted operating profit margin is anticipated to be between 3.5% and 5.5% compared with a consensus of 5.1%.
CEO Commentary
"In this environment, where you cannot assume that the automotive production will grow globally, where there's still a lot of uncertainty, we believe that conservative guidance continues to be the most prudent approach," CEO Klaus Rosenfeld told Reuters in an interview.
Medium-Term Targets
While the guidance is below the midpoint of expectations, Schaeffler confirmed it is still on track to meet its medium-term targets.
Growth Areas and Optimism
"I am definitely optimistic that we will achieve our ambition in the new growth areas, which may even happen earlier than planned," Rosenfeld said.
Market Conditions and Sector Performance
Despite U.S. tariffs, weaker demand and intensifying Chinese competition weighing on the automotive sector, investors had been increasingly betting on Schaeffler's growing humanoid‑robotics segment, driving the stock's significant outperformance relative to the sector before Tuesday's drop.
Recent Financial Results
Schaeffler also reported a decline in revenue to 23.5 billion euros from 24.3 billion euros in 2025, impacted by a 7.8% decline at its powertrain & chassis division. Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) before special items increased by 11.1% to 936 million euros.
Long-Term Strategic Outlook
Looking further ahead, the company said that by 2035 it wants to generate up to 10% of its revenue "from new, high-potential activities such as the areas of humanoid robotics and defense."
($1 = 0.8572 euros)
(Reporting by Amir Orusov and Simon Ferdinand Eibach; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
Key Takeaways
- •2026 revenue guidance of €22.5–24.5 billion undercuts consensus of €24.03 billion, reflecting conservative stance amid a weak macro and auto environment (uk.finance.yahoo.com).
- •Adjusted operating profit margin forecast of 3.5–5.5% lags consensus of 5.1%, signaling ongoing margin pressure from e‑mobility costs, restructuring, and subdued demand (uk.finance.yahoo.com).
- •Schaeffler is undergoing a strategic transformation: job reductions, cost synergies from the Vitesco integration, and diversification into robotics, defense, and aerospace aim to bolster resilience (businessinsider.com).
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Schaeffler provides conservative 2026 outlook amid challenging environment
1What is Schaeffler's 2026 revenue outlook?
Schaeffler expects its 2026 revenue to be between 22.5 billion and 24.5 billion euros.
2What reasons did Schaeffler cite for its conservative outlook?
Schaeffler cited a challenging environment as the main reason for its conservative 2026 outlook.
3What is the current euro to dollar exchange rate noted in the article?
The article notes the exchange rate as $1 equals 0.8572 euros.
