Daimler Truck shocked investors with a deeper-than-expected profit warning, sending shares plummeting 6.5% pre-market to around €40. The downturn stems from collapsing orders in North America, where second-quarter demand halved due to freight companies’ reluctance to invest amid tariff uncertainty. The company slashed its full-year revenue forecast to €44–47 billion from €48–51 billion, with adjusted EBIT now projected at €3.6–4.1 billion—well below prior targets. North American sales expectations were cut to 135,000–155,000 units, while global industrial vehicle deliveries were trimmed to 410,000–440,000. A cost-cutting program targeting over 7,000 jobs aims to save €1 billion by 2030.
Glimmer of Hope in Electrification
Despite the bleak outlook, Daimler Truck reported a stable 9.3% adjusted return on sales last quarter, with electric vehicle deliveries surging 36% year-over-year to 1,991 units. Analysts remain divided on whether the order slump has bottomed out, but the stock’s resilience near its 52-week high suggests lingering investor confidence in the company’s long-term strategy.
