ITOCHU stock gains support from record first-half profit

ITOCHU Corporation reported record first-half earnings on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, as stronger operating performance and investment gains offset uneven conditions in resource markets. Yahoo Finance, citing Investing.com, said net profit for the six months ended September climbed 16 percent from a year earlier to 580.5 billion yen.

Broad-based earnings growth

Core profit, which excludes extraordinary gains and losses, rose 33 percent to a record 504.5 billion yen. Non-resource operations contributed 427 billion yen, an increase of 30 percent from the prior-year period, while resource-related core profit advanced 52 percent to 77.5 billion yen.

Machinery, metals and minerals, and energy and chemicals were identified as key contributors. Stronger North American power earnings, improved coal operations and higher chemical prices supported the result. The sale of an overseas energy business also contributed to extraordinary gains, separating part of the reported improvement from recurring operating performance.

Full-year targets remain unchanged

ITOCHU maintained its forecast for full-year net profit of 950 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2027. First-half profit therefore represented 61 percent of the annual target. The company also retained its core profit forecast of 900 billion yen, with the first half accounting for 56 percent of that objective.

Management expects energy and chemicals earnings to slow in the second half as disruptions in the supply of chemical raw materials ease. That outlook places greater importance on the performance of non-resource businesses and on whether the first-half contribution from power, coal and chemicals can be sustained.

ITOCHU also forecast annual shareholder returns of at least 604 billion yen, including dividends and share buybacks. The combination of record core profit, unchanged guidance and a substantial planned return supports the earnings profile, although the expected slowdown in energy and chemicals remains a factor for investors to monitor.

Share price and investor context

ITOCHU stock traded at 12.79 euros on Lang & Schwarz at 09:33 CET on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Investors can follow the real-time quote of ITOCHU stock for further market updates.

Japan's equity market and the Nikkei 225 are covered in current market reports.

For further company-specific developments, see more news and analyses on ITOCHU stock.