German DAX drops nearly 1% in the last session of the week, DE40 futures down 0.25%
- German automotive stocks under pressure amid fears of 25% U.S. tariffs; BMW and Porsche AG down 2.5%.
- Mercedes-Benz to lay off 15% of its workforce in China.
- Aixtron shares slump over 10% after earnings and forecasts fail to meet market expectations.
- Onshore wind turbine supplier Nordex declines over 1%, as its guidance falls within the mid-range of expectations.
European stock market sentiment remains subdued today, with DAX facing strong resistance. Currently, DE40 futures are testing the lower boundary of the upward channel observed since January 2025. Bulls are struggling to hold above the 200-hour EMA (around 22,600 points).
Source: xStation5
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German car manufacturers, Zalando and Symrise are the weakest stocks in DAX today, while Rheinmetall and Beiersdorf rise. Outside the DAX, defense supplier Hensoldt and Thyssenkrupp are seeing gains. Source: Bloomberg Finance L.P.
The European stock market is seeing declines in the automotive sector, while Rolls-Royce surges nearly 17%, benefiting from strong defense orders. Source: xStation5
Aixtron Faces Worst Session Since February 2024, Testing Multi-Year Lows
Semiconductor solutions provider Aixtron forecasts 2025 revenue between €530 million and €600 million, likely falling below the 2024 level of €633.2 million.
2025 Earnings and Forecasts:
- Expected revenue: €530M – €600M (Bloomberg estimate: €574.9M, LSEG: €582M)
- EBIT: €131.2M (Estimate: €137.4M) vs. €156.8M in the previous year
- Earnings per share: €0.94 (Estimate: €1.04)
- Gross margin: 41% (Estimate: 42.7%)
In Q1 2025, the company expects sales between €90M – €110M, compared to €118.3M in Q1 2024. The gross margin and EBIT forecast include costs related to a voluntary workforce reduction program, totaling several million euros (mid-single-digit range). This measure is expected to yield annual savings of several million euros, improving the gross margin and EBIT by about 1 percentage point.
Aixtron cited challenging market conditions, reporting a 16% drop in operating profit, putting its stock on track for its worst day in a year. The semiconductor sector remains under pressure, as rising demand from AI fails to offset weaker demand for automotive, PC, and memory chips.
Aixtron (AIXA.DE) Chart
Aixtron shares are now trading nearly 40% below the 200-day EMA, testing levels last seen in 2020.
Source: xStation5
