BASF stock holds after higher outlook, cash flow stays in focus
Published on 11/06/2026 at 18:19 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSOutlook improves, cash flow remains key
- BASF raised the lower end of its 2026 adjusted EBITDA forecast after stronger third-quarter performance.
- Reported earnings remained under pressure from restructuring charges, an impairment and weaker operating cash flow.
- Investors will focus on raw-material costs, industrial demand and the pace of restructuring.
BASF stock traded at 54.28 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 18:10 CET on Friday, November 6, 2026, unchanged from the Xetra close of Friday, November 6. Since the relevant previous report at 10:16 CET, the quote has fallen 1.04 percent from 54.85 euros. The real-time quote of BASF stock is available here.
Stronger core businesses lift guidance
BASF reported its third-quarter 2026 results on October 28. According to the BASF news release, sales rose 14 percent year over year to 16.4 billion euros. Higher prices contributed 12 percentage points to growth, while volumes added 2 percentage points.
EBITDA before special items increased 15 percent to 1.6 billion euros from 1.4 billion euros a year earlier. BASF lifted its 2026 forecast for EBITDA before special items to between 7.4 billion and 7.8 billion euros, compared with the previous range of 6.9 billion to 7.7 billion euros.
Reported results tell a weaker story
The adjusted improvement did not flow through fully to reported earnings. EBITDA remained at 1.2 billion euros, while special items of negative 437 million euros mainly reflected restructuring expenses at Ludwigshafen and a legal settlement in Care Chemicals. EBIT fell to a loss of 98 million euros from a profit of 232 million euros in the prior-year quarter, and net income declined to 155 million euros from 172 million euros.
Cash generation also warrants attention. Operating cash flow fell to 1.1 billion euros, with 507 million euros tied up in inventories as raw-material prices rose. Free cash flow nevertheless increased to 523 million euros from 398 million euros, and BASF maintained its full-year free-cash-flow forecast of 1.5 billion to 2.3 billion euros, according to the PCI Magazine report.
What investors should watch next
The upgraded adjusted outlook provides earnings support, but restructuring costs, impairments and working-capital needs can continue to separate adjusted performance from reported profit and cash generation. Agricultural Solutions was a weak spot, while stronger pricing supported several core businesses.
BASF company and market details
- Company: BASF SE
- ISIN: DE000BASF111
- Xetra ticker: BAS.DE
- Lang & Schwarz quote: 54.28 euros at 18:10 CET on November 6, 2026
- Change since relevant previous report: -1.04 percent from 54.85 euros at 10:16 CET on November 6, 2026
- Xetra close: 54.28 euros on November 6, 2026
- Sector: Chemicals
Germany's DAX market remains the relevant broader equity-market reference for BASF investors; see the DAX market overview.
For further developments, see More news and analyses on BASF stock.
