SGL Carbon Charts a New Course with 2030 Growth Plan

SGL Carbon posts a €79.2M net loss in 2025 after restructuring its carbon fiber unit. The company now pivots to defense and aerospace markets, aiming for an 18% EBITDA margin by 2030.

SGL Carbon has completed a significant restructuring of its struggling carbon fiber division, though the financial toll for 2025 was substantial. The company is now pivoting its strategy toward high-margin specialty markets in an effort to secure its long-term future.

Financial Performance Reflects Strategic Overhaul

The company's consolidated financials for 2025 reveal the cost of its transformation. Revenue contracted by 17.2 percent to 850.2 million euros, a decline management attributes partly to strategic decisions, including the closure of unprofitable facilities in Portugal and the United States. However, substantial asset impairments and write-downs on deferred tax assets culminated in a net loss of 79.2 million euros for the year.

Investor sentiment has turned cautious following the results and a guarded outlook. The stock has declined nearly 20 percent over a 30-day period, recently trading at 3.40 euros. With a Relative Strength Index (RSI) reading of 22.5, the shares are now technically considered to be in deeply oversold territory.

A Strategic Pivot Toward Niche Applications

Looking ahead, SGL Carbon anticipates revenue will fall further in 2026, projecting a range of 720 to 770 million euros, as demand from key sectors like semiconductors and automotive remains soft. The long-term recovery is pinned on the "SGL Growth 2030" initiative. This strategic blueprint involves a sharpened focus on advanced graphite products for defense, aerospace, and modular nuclear reactor applications.

The financial foundation for this shift appears intact. Free cash flow remained stable at 37 million euros in 2025. Management's target is to achieve an EBITDA margin of up to 18 percent by 2030. The company's future success now largely hinges on its ability to effectively scale operations within these new defense and aerospace business segments.