MAX Automation: Solid operational start into challenging 2026 - NuWays AG Research
MAX published its Q1 2026 figures. These showcased a resilient performance in challenging market environments, pointing towards first signs of structurally improving demand across most of the group's portfolio companies.
ANNONS
Q1 revenue rose 18.9% yoy to € 82.6m (eNuW: € 83.6), carried by double-digit increases across all portfolio companies, except for Vecoplan impacted by low-capacity utilization. ELWEMA especially profited with a 77% yoy revenue increase (to € 17m) from a large project received in Q2 2025 as well as follow-up orders. bdtronic's contribution rose by 33% yoy (to € 21m) through the recognition of percentage-of-completion method projects. Overall demand seems to further increase, yet coming from low levels.
FY26 Guidance confirmed. In Q1 MAX was seen to navigate the challenging market environments driven primarily by project-based customer orders from the automotive industry and the waste disposal/wood processing industry impacted by the war in Ukraine. Operational improvements outlined above point to a mixed, but resilient performance. Supported by Q1 figures, MAX confirmed its FY26 guidance of € 320m to € 370m in revenue and € 12m to € 18m in EBITDA. Projecting largely flat yoy revenue of € 336m (eNuW) and a 9.6% drop in EBITDA (eNuW) due to low capacity utilization, but supported by capacity adjustment and cost savings initiatives, the FY26 guidance looks achievable, in our view.