Lanxess

LANXESS shares fell more than 5% at times and hit their lowest level since March, weighed down by rising energy costs. The September decline in the European chemical sector continued, with BASF and Evonik also dropping sharply. Analysts turned more cautious: JPMorgan cut its price target for LANXESS, Morgan Stanley moved Evonik to equal-weight, while hopes of a temporary boom from supply outages are fading. » Plus sur finanzen.net

LANXESS is accelerating cost reductions, portfolio shifts and debt-reduction measures as weak agriculture and construction markets pressure earnings. Its FORWARD! program has delivered about €150 million in savings with ~€170 million more planned through 2028, including plant closures and capacity shifts toward pharmaceuticals. Q2 adjusted EBITDA rose to €152 million and free cash flow turned positive, but management kept 2026 EBITDA pre guidance at €450–550 million and warned the improvement may not be a trend. The company targets net debt below 2.5x EBITDA and plans tighter capital and working-capital management plus monetization of its Envalior stake to restore investment-grade status. » Plus sur finance.yahoo.com

At the German Select VIII Conference Lanxess reported an improvement in Q2 with adjusted EBITDA of €152m (Q1: €94m) and positive free cash flow of €56m. The company confirms its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance of €450–550m and expects Q3 EBITDA of €130–150m. Management stresses that cost reductions and a focus on the portfolio remain the main drivers of earnings stabilization, as capacity utilization at around 65–70% is still below a healthy level. Lanxess is prioritizing debt reduction, including possible monetization of its Envalior stake, plans further savings and no major capacity expansions. » Plus sur de.investing.com