Mercedes-Benz Battles Headwinds: Buyback Expires, Job Guarantees Fray, but New EV Earns Top Green NCAP Score
Published on 06/22/2026 at 05:53 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
A rare piece of good news emerged from Mercedes-Benz over the weekend, offering a fleeting contrast to the relentless sell-off in its shares. The all-electric CLA EQ 250+ scooped a five-star Green NCAP rating with an overall score of 91 percent, praised by testers for its real-world consumption and strong winter range. The result underscores the company’s technological muscle in electric vehicles at a time when investors are increasingly focused on operational strains.
That strain was laid bare on Thursday, when the stock hit a fresh 52-week low of €43.99. The shares closed Friday at €45.09, representing a year-to-date decline of roughly 27 percent. One key support mechanism has now vanished: the multi-billion euro share buyback programme has officially ended. With that prop removed, the market’s attention turns squarely to underlying earnings – and the current environment leaves no room for missteps.
Technically, the picture remains precarious. The relative strength index sits at 32.5, suggesting the stock is deeply oversold, but the yawning gap to the 200-day moving average of €55.23 confirms the long-term downtrend. If the share price breaches the €44 support level, a fresh wave of selling could follow quickly. The RSI reading alone offers little comfort when the broader trend is so negative.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Mercedes-Benz?
Behind the scenes, management is preparing deeper cuts. Internal talks with worker representatives are under way, with the company reportedly seeking to loosen existing employment guarantees. The goal is to boost operational flexibility as the carmaker navigates a punishing market. The BMW profit warning last week has already rattled the entire sector, and Mercedes-Benz is under pressure to show it can defend margins in its premium segment.
All eyes now turn to Tuesday, when the top brass will appear at the Jefferies investor conference in Baden-Baden. Analysts expect clarity on luxury-car demand and pricing power, especially for the GLC EV launch in China. The management’s message will determine the near-term direction: a convincing update could spark a rebound, while a weak outlook would put the yearly low squarely back in sellers’ crosshairs.
Further data arrives on 23 June, when the European auto industry body ACEA publishes May registration figures. These numbers will reveal whether Europe can offset the price war raging in China – a key variable for Mercedes-Benz, which relies heavily on its premium model mix for profitability. Official half-year results are not due until late July, making the Baden-Baden appearance a critical interim check.
For now, the Green NCAP triumph provides a welcome technological feather in the cap, but it does little to shift the narrative on the stock. With buybacks halted, job protections under threat and the chart signalling more downside risk, the immediate focus remains firmly on whether management can convince investors that the luxury strategy can hold up under sustained pressure.
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Mercedes-Benz Stock: New Analysis - 22 June
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