Rheinmetall cuts 2026 sales forecast again as Boxer order slips

November 4, 2026 5:17 PM EST

FILE PHOTO: Employees of Germany's Rheinmetall work in a production line at the plant in Kassel, Germany, August 27, 2026. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo

Nov 4 (Reuters) - Rheinmetall cut ‌its 2026 sales ​forecast ​for the second time in three months late on Wednesday, saying it no longer expected a contract award this ‌year for Germany's Arminius Boxer vehicle programme and that ⁠revenue from artillery ammunition would be delayed by slower batch approvals.

The Duesseldorf-based group now ‌expects sales of about 13.2 ‌billion euros ($14.81 billion), below the 13.7 billion to 14.2 billion euros it forecast previously and beneath the lowest of 22 analyst ​estimates in a Vara Research compilation dated October 15.

It also lowered its operating margin target to about 18.5% from around 19%.

Rheinmetall ⁠said revenue and advance payments linked to Arminius would move into next year and gave no ​updated timetable for the award. The company also said not all expected revenue opportunities from newer activities, including ​cooperation with Dutch drone maker Destinus, would ‌materialise in 2026.

The guidance cut came despite strong third-quarter results.

Sales rose to 3.15 billion euros from 2.31 ⁠billion, while operating profit increased 62% to 553 million euros, lifting the operating margin to 17.5% from 14.8% a year earlier. Order intake totalled 2.89 ⁠billion euros.

Rheinmetall still expects positive operating free cash flow for the year but dropped ​its target for a cash conversion rate above 40% after the delay to Arminius. The company had expected a 30% advance payment worth more than 3 ‌billion euros under the programme, according to comments by Chief Executive Armin Papperger to reporters in August.

Papperger ‌said at the time that Rheinmetall's share of an initial Arminius order ⁠could amount to about 12.4 ‌billion euros. The programme ​is expected to become one of Germany's largest military procurement projects.

($1 = 0.8913 euros)

(Reporting by Maria Rugamer; Editing by ‌Shailesh Kuber)



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