Siemens Warns Currency Headwinds Will Hit 2026 Results; CEO Defends Mid-Term Target

Core Viewpoint - Siemens AG has indicated that adverse currency movements will negatively impact its results in the upcoming year, despite expectations for a stable global economic environment [1][3]. Financial Outlook - Siemens projects a sales increase of 6%-8% for the next fiscal year and 6%-9% in the mid-term [1]. - The company anticipates earnings per share for fiscal year 2026 to be between €10.40 and €11.00, which is below the consensus estimate of €11.54 [2]. - In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, Siemens reported a 6% increase in sales to €21.4 billion, while industrial profit rose 2% to €3.19 billion, falling short of the projected €3.32 billion [7]. Currency Impact - Siemens joins other European companies in highlighting currency fluctuations as a risk, with the US dollar declining approximately 11.5% against the euro year-to-date [3]. - The strong euro has made European goods more expensive abroad, adversely affecting profit margins when converting US earnings back to euros [3]. Competitive Environment - German manufacturers, including Siemens, are facing challenges as Germany's economy lags behind China and the US in innovation and investment [8]. - The German Council of Economic Experts has revised its growth forecast for Germany in 2026 down to 0.9% from 1.0%, citing weak private investment and sluggish exports as contributing factors [9]. Trade Deficit - Germany is projected to experience a record trade deficit of €87 billion with China this year, indicating struggles for German companies to maintain competitiveness [13]. - In September, China exported €14.6 billion worth of goods to Germany, while German exports to China were only €6.7 billion [14].