Swiss automotive components manufacturer Feintool reported a return to profitability in the first half of 2026, with revenue rising 5.6% year-on-year to CHF 353.3 million. On a currency-adjusted basis, sales growth accelerated to 10.8%, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
Regional demand dynamics varied significantly. In Europe, Feintool benefited from increased demand in fine blanking, forming and industrial applications. The U.S. market saw strong growth driven by robust demand for hybrid and internal combustion engine components, while Asia gained from ongoing shifts in automotive manufacturing capacity.
Operating performance improved markedly, with EBITDA surging 47% to CHF 34.1 million and EBIT turning positive at CHF 8.8 million, compared with a loss of CHF 1.9 million in the prior-year period. The EBIT margin reached 2.5%, while net profit amounted to CHF 3.2 million after a loss of CHF 5.0 million a year earlier. Free cash flow also showed improvement, narrowing to a deficit of CHF 4.5 million from CHF 17.7 million, as lower investment spending and cash-generation initiatives took effect. A seasonal rise in receivables offset some of these gains.
For the full year 2026, Feintool now expects revenue growth of around 4%, maintaining an EBIT margin in line with the 2.5% achieved in H1. The company also targets a significantly positive free cash flow. Management anticipates a slightly weaker market environment in the second half, with North America expected to remain robust, Europe facing further consolidation and China stabilizing in Q3 before gaining momentum in Q4.
Feintool also announced its first production order at the newly opened plant in Pune, India, with commercial operations slated to begin in Q1 2027.
