Aurubis shares jumped over 3% to €89.35 on Tuesday, ranking among the top performers in the MDAX, as the copper producer exceeded quarterly expectations and narrowed its annual forecast. While operating profit before taxes fell 37% to €57 million in Q3 due to planned maintenance shutdowns in Bulgaria and Lünen, investors focused on the bigger picture. The modernization of Aurubis’s Bulgarian plant—its largest investment in 30 years—cost €115 million but positions the company for long-term growth. Nine-month operating profit reached €286 million, surpassing analyst estimates, prompting management to tighten its full-year guidance to €330–370 million (from €300–400 million).
US Expansion Weighs on Short-Term Results
The newly opened $740 million recycling plant in Georgia is currently denting earnings, with profitability expected only by 2026/27. However, the move hedges against potential trade tariffs and taps into America’s recycling boom. Higher copper and gold prices, alongside strong sulfuric acid sales, offset some headwinds, though supply chain constraints for copper concentrates persist. Despite a 20% drop in net profit to €215 million over nine months, Aurubis shares have gained 17% this year, reflecting investor confidence in its strategic investments.
