Mercedes-Benz Stock Clings to Support as Bonus Deferral and Extended Hours Stir Labor Tension
28.06.2026 - 05:44:49 | boerse-global.de
Mercedes-Benz shares have edged within striking distance of their 52-week trough, settling at €43.27 on Friday — just 0.6% above the intraday low of €43.01 hit earlier that same session. The 30% year-to-date slide reflects deepening concerns over margins, slowing demand in China, and now a contentious new austerity program that is putting the company on a collision course with its workforce.
The Stuttgart-based manufacturer has moved to delay a special payment worth 18.4% of monthly salary — the so-called "transformation component" originally slated for July — pushing it back to 2027 for roughly 90,000 employees. At the same time, management is pushing for longer working hours without additional compensation and exploring the relocation of some production and administrative roles outside Germany. The company blames elevated manufacturing costs, trade restrictions, and a persistent sales slump in China for the tougher stance. The works council has pushed back, denouncing the bonus deferral as a unilateral move and opposing the longer-hours proposal, signaling potential friction ahead.
Analysts remain cautious. Bernstein Research maintains a “Market-Perform” rating and a €61 price target, with Stephen Reitman highlighting strengths in electric mobility and resilient supply chains. Yet the market is pricing in a far bleaker scenario. The stock now trades more than 21% below its 200-day moving average of €55.05, and while the relative strength index of 29.2 points to oversold conditions, technical analysts warn that such readings alone do not guarantee a trend reversal.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Mercedes-Benz?
Operationally, the first quarter offered a mixed picture. Mercedes-Benz reported group revenue of €31.6 billion and EBIT of €1.9 billion, with the adjusted return on sales at the car division reaching 4.1% — landing within the full-year target corridor of 3% to 5%. Battery-electric vehicle sales jumped 34% in Europe and 36% in Germany, helping offset ongoing weakness in China. Management reaffirmed its full-year outlook, predicting revenue at last year’s level and a clear uptick in EBIT, though free cash flow is expected to dip slightly.
Investors now look to two key dates in July. On the 14th, the company will host a pre-close call to flag second-quarter developments, followed by the full Q2 interim report and analyst conference on July 28. A decisive break below €43.01 would likely invite further selling, making the upcoming set of earnings figures critical for stabilizing the stock.
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