Mercedes-Benz Shares Rebound on EU Tariff Plans and Cost-Cutting Talks After 52-Week Low
19.06.2026 - 18:10:37 | boerse-global.de
Mercedes-Benz stock clawed back some ground on Friday, rising 1.17% to €45.10, a day after plumbing a 52-week trough of €43.99. The partial recovery follows a turbulent week in which a profit warning from BMW sent shockwaves through the European auto sector and a new EU trade initiative gave investors a fresh catalyst to consider.
The European Commission is preparing to extend compensatory tariffs to Chinese plug-in hybrids, a category previously exempt from the punitive levies applied to battery-electric vehicles. Market observers view the move as a modest positive for Mercedes-Benz, which has a strong PHEV lineup. UBS analyst Patrick Hummel described the proposal as “slightly positive” for the industry. Meanwhile, management is locked in negotiations with labour representatives over deeper cost reductions, exploring ways to make existing employment guarantees more flexible in a bid to strengthen operational resilience amid weak demand and margin pressure.
The group’s underlying financials underline the challenges. In the first quarter, Mercedes-Benz reported group revenue of €31.6bn and EBIT of €1.9bn. The adjusted return on sales in the cars division came in at 4.1% — within the full-year guidance range of 3% to 5% but at the lower end. Global sales reached 419,400 vehicles, with gains in Europe and the US only partly offsetting declines in China, which remains a structural drag. In Germany, May new-car registrations totalled 239,448, with domestic brands down 5% year-on-year. Battery-electric vehicles, however, surged 39%, underscoring the margin challenge Mercedes-Benz faces as it pivots to EVs.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Mercedes-Benz?
Technical indicators reflect the severity of the sell-off. The relative strength index stands at 32.7, pointing to oversold conditions, though the stock still trades about 9% below its 50-day moving average and almost 18% below the 200-day line. Since the start of the year, the shares have lost 26.23%, and they remain 27% below the 52-week high of €62.30. JPMorgan analyst Jose Asumendi called the recent developments a “wake-up call”, noting that structural cost and demand issues are no longer ignorable.
The durability of Friday’s bounce will depend on whether the EU tariff plans become concrete and cost-cutting talks yield a deal. Investors have several near-term markers to watch: the ACEA May registrations report on 23 June, a pre-close call for the second quarter on 14 July, and the full half-year results on 28 July, accompanied by an analyst conference. How Mercedes-Benz navigates margin pressures and an accelerating EV shift will determine whether this recovery is more than a technical pause.
Ad
Mercedes-Benz Stock: New Analysis - 19 June
Fresh Mercedes-Benz information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
