Continental raised its 2026 profitability and cash-flow outlook Nov. 4, 2026, after its tire business delivered higher third-quarter earnings. The improved forecast applies to continuing operations, while the company separately lowered expectations for ContiTech, which it plans to sell.
Continental now expects an adjusted operating margin of 13.4% to 14%, compared with 12% to 13.5% previously. Its adjusted free cash flow forecast increased to 1 billion to 1.3 billion euros from 700 million to 1.1 billion euros.
Business perimeter matters
Continuing-operations sales were about 3.5 billion euros in the quarter. Adjusted operating earnings rose 6.7% to 514 million euros, and the adjusted margin reached 14.9%, compared with 13.9% a year earlier.
The company attributed the tire performance partly to stronger sales of large, high-performance tires and commercial measures addressing higher raw-material prices. Reuters also reported the raised profitability outlook, citing demand for higher-margin tires despite cost pressure.
ContiTech has been excluded from the continuing-operations outlook since August because of its planned sale, Continental said. That separation means the higher group forecast should not be read as an improvement across every business.
For suppliers and commercial partners, the report describes a business mix with different operating trajectories and different financial reporting boundaries. Adjusted profitability, reported sales and future cash expectations are distinct measures; the revised ranges remain forecasts, not completed full-year results.