According to analyst comments, this particularly applies to the shares of BASF and FUCHS, which are among the bigger losers in their DAX and MDAX indices via XETRA with discounts of 0.45 percent to 52.76 euros and 0.93 percent to 36.06 euros. The European chemical sector showed a slight increase, while the overall market grew more significantly.
Chemical stocks were heavily impacted in the early phase of the armed conflict in Iran. Recently, however, the assumption that the situation in the Middle East is causing a shortage of global chemicals supplies and that European suppliers could benefit from rising prices has caused optimism.
The stocks that had recovered significantly included BASF and Fuchs, which have now been downgraded by the analysis firm Kepler – BASF to a neutral level and Fuchs to the negative “Reduce” vote. BASF had increased by up to 18 percent within six trading days and Fuchs by more than 14 percent, while the industry index increased by around ten percent.
In his study with regard to BASF, expert Christian Faitz from Kepler Cheuvreux spoke of a recent noticeable “hype” due to the situation in the Middle East, but it was exaggerated. The people of Ludwigshafen would not only be seen as a relative winner, but also as an absolute winner of the crisis. However, BASF is not completely protected. Against this background, he reduced his expectations and cut his price target from 56 to 54 euros.
Kepler analyst Martin Rödiger wrote about the lubricant manufacturer Fuchs that the war in the Middle East represents an even stronger headwind for the lubricant manufacturer Fuchs than the difficult economic situation in the final quarter of 2025. The problem is primarily the rising prices for raw materials. They are likely to weigh on Fuchs’ profitability and increase the working capital required. Rödiger still believes the consensus estimates for Fuchs are too high. Accordingly, he cut his forecasts for earnings per share until 2028 and the price target from 43 to 34 euros.
/tih/edh/jha/
FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX)
Selected leverage products on BASF
With knock-outs, speculative investors can participate disproportionately in price movements. Simply select the lever you want and we will show you suitable open-end products on BASF
The leverage must be between 2 and 20
Advertising
