Germany's arms boom hits reality as Rheinmetall shares plunge 17% Germany's biggest arms maker cut its sales forecast for 2026 for the second time in three months, sending its shares down as much as 17%, the Financial Times reports. Rheinmetall now expects revenue of $14.9 billion, down from a previous forecast of $15.4-16 billion, after delays pushed a major German Boxer armored vehicle contract worth more than $13.5 billion into 2027. The company is also dealing with delays in the delivery of artillery ammunition and lowered its target operating profit margin from 19% to 18.5%. The setback comes as Berlin pours billions into rearmament and NATO's European members seek to expand arms production amid the conflict in Ukraine. Despite increasing military budgets and political commitments, major procurement programs continue to face delays. substack | talk.

Germany's arms boom hits reality as Rheinmetall shares plunge 17% Germany's biggest arms maker cut its sales forecast for 2026 for the second time in three months, sending its shares down as much as 17%, the Financial Times reports. Rheinmetall now expects revenue of $14.9 billion, down from a previous forecast of $15.4-16 billion, after delays pushed a major German Boxer armored vehicle contract worth more than $13.5 billion into 2027. The company is also dealing with delays in the delivery of artillery ammunition and lowered its target operating profit margin from 19% to 18.5%. The setback comes as Berlin pours billions into rearmament and NATO's European members seek to expand arms production amid the conflict in Ukraine. Despite increasing military budgets and political commitments, major procurement programs continue to face delays. substack | talk.