Key Highlights
- Sixt SE delivered first-quarter pre-tax earnings of €2.1 million, surpassing analyst expectations of a €1.5 million deficit
- Quarterly revenue reached €928.9 million, representing a 12.6% currency-adjusted increase and exceeding the €911 million forecast
- Corporate EBITDA surged 40.2% compared to the previous year, reaching €67.7 million
- The company returned to profitability with net income of €1.5 million versus a €12.6 million loss in Q1 2025
- Management reaffirmed 2026 annual projections: revenue between €4.45–€4.60 billion with approximately 10% pre-tax profit margin
Shares of Sixt SE (ETR: SIXG) advanced 4.93% during Wednesday trading following the German mobility provider’s announcement of first-quarter financial results that exceeded market forecasts on multiple fronts.
The company reported pre-tax earnings of €2.1 million for the first quarter. This figure significantly outperformed the consensus analyst projection of a €1.5 million shortfall and marked a substantial improvement from the €17.6 million deficit recorded during the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
Quarterly revenue totaled €928.9 million, representing a 12.6% increase when adjusted for currency fluctuations and beating the consensus forecast of €911 million.
The bottom line showed net profit of €1.5 million, a dramatic reversal from the €12.6 million loss reported in the first quarter of 2025. This turnaround highlights improved operational efficiency through enhanced demand patterns and more disciplined fleet oversight.
Corporate-level EBITDA climbed 40.2% on a year-over-year basis to €67.7 million, exceeding Wall Street estimates. The vehicle fleet expanded 8.4% to reach 182,900 units, not including franchise partner fleets.
Alexander Sixt, Co-CEO, attributed the positive performance to strategic execution: “a tight, demand-oriented fleet, sustained strong investments in premium vehicles, brand, network, and above all technology.”
Performance by Geography
The European markets outside Germany delivered the most impressive growth trajectory, with revenue climbing 16.2% to €344.7 million. The domestic German market contributed €271.2 million, up 11.5% from the year-ago period.
North American operations reported revenue of €310.3 million, down 1.9% on a reported basis due to currency translation headwinds. However, Jefferies analysts highlighted that organic growth in the region reached 9.2% when stripping out FX impacts.
While the currency pressures in North America warrant attention, the fundamental demand trends in that market remain encouraging.
Full-Year Outlook Maintained
Sixt management left its full-year 2026 financial targets unchanged. The company continues to project annual revenue in the €4.45 billion to €4.60 billion range, accompanied by a pre-tax earnings margin “in the area” of 10%.
The midpoint of this revenue guidance stands at €4.525 billion, closely aligned with the €4.54 billion consensus estimate. The implied pre-tax earnings figure of approximately €453 million compares favorably to the consensus of €446.9 million.
CFO Franz Weinberger emphasized the company’s confidence by maintaining guidance “despite increased geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty.”
The first-quarter performance represents a complete turnaround from the year-earlier losses. With unchanged guidance and resilient demand across core markets, these results provide shareholders with improved visibility as the company approaches the peak summer travel period.
