Continental Aktiengesellschaft
5-year stock timeline
Continental's six-year arc from 2020 to now reflects a company working through a genuine operational reset—one that's only recently begun to crystallize into something the market can price with confidence.
The pandemic hit hard and fast. Q2 2020 saw free cash flow crater to around -€1.8bn as automotive demand evaporated overnight. That shock, though, forced a reckoning. By late 2020, Nikolai Setzer arrived as CEO with a mandate to simplify. The Vitesco spin-off followed in September 2021, stripping away the Powertrain business and cutting through the conglomerate fog that had obscured what Continental actually was.
The years that followed tested patience. Supply-chain fractures, semiconductor scarcity, energy and raw-material inflation, and the geopolitical tremor from Ukraine all compressed margins and forced repeated guidance resets. Investors cycled through skepticism—the name felt like a turnaround play, not a compounder. Guidance revisions and margin pressure became the rhythm.
What's changed recently is the clarity of direction. Since 2024, management has been methodical about the next shape of the company: a focused tire champion. Asset sales (Aumovio, Original Equipment Solutions) and a broader realignment have moved from talk to execution. A planned CEO transition at year-end 2025/early 2026 signals the completion of one chapter and the opening of another.
Technically, the journey has been volatile—deep drawdowns in 2020 and 2022, choppy consolidation through 2023–2024, then a rerating through 2025 as concrete realignment steps and asset announcements gave the market something tangible to anchor on. The stock is now trading at 60.18, priced in the context of that tire-centric future taking shape.
Key risks and downside factors
Continental AG competes in a global automotive-supplier market dominated by large diversified Tier-1 players and major tire manufacturers, where price, scale, and technology determine positioning [1][7]. The company navigates transition risk tied to electrification and software-led platforms, alongside cyclical auto production, commodity-cost pressures, and regulatory and warranty obligations that can squeeze margins and increase capital requirements [3][1][7].
- Automotive cyclical exposure: global vehicle production downturns can materially compress both revenue and margins [1][3].
- Electrification, advanced driver assistance systems, and software platforms demand substantial R&D spending and capital investment. Companies that struggle to keep pace risk losing ground to technology-focused competitors who can move faster and iterate more effectively.
- Commodity and supply-chain cost volatility continues to weigh on margins, with raw-material price swings and logistics disruptions creating persistent pressure on gross profitability.
- Safety recalls or regulatory penalties affecting critical components pose material risks—both the direct costs and the reputational damage that tends to linger longer than the bills do [3][1].
Competitive landscape
Continental operates in two demanding arenas—tyres and automotive systems—where it squares off against formidable competitors like Michelin and Aptiv. The business carries inherent exposure to automotive cycles and the accelerating shift toward EVs and ADAS, both of which demand substantial R&D investment and transformation spending. On top of that, the company navigates supply-chain turbulence, commodity swings, regulatory and recall obligations, and relentless pricing pressure from entrenched rivals.
| Company | Ticker |
|---|---|
| Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin SCA | ML.PA |
| Aptiv PLC | APTV.NYSE |
Private competitors
- Robert Bosch GmbH
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Start Free TrialPerformance Figures of Continental Aktiengesellschaft
Relative Performance vs Benchmarks
| Period | Continental Aktiengesellschaft | vs DAX | vs S&P 500 (SPY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | -15.58% | -9.61% | -10.59% |
| 3M | -12.30% | -6.90% | -7.93% |
| 6M | +1.92% | +6.89% | +4.19% |
| 1Y | +25.87% | +23.09% | +8.61% |
| 3Y | +29.19% | -19.04% | -35.89% |
| 5Y | -8.71% | -62.06% | -82.53% |
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Start Free TrialHistorical valuation trends
How the company’s key valuation ratios (P/E, P/S, P/B and P/CF) have evolved over time compared to today.
| Period | P/E Ratio | P/S Ratio | P/B Ratio | P/CF Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | -72.2 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 5.4 |
| 1Y ago | 10.0 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 3.5 |
| 3Y ago | 61.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 8.7 |
| 5Y ago | -25.0 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 6.0 |
Key Metrics
Valuation Metrics
Profitability Metrics
Growth Metrics
Dividend history
Long-term record of paid dividends (amount per share and dividend yield at the time of payment).
| Year | Dividend | Yield at payment | Avg. yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.70 EUR | — | 3.82% |
| 2025 | 2.50 EUR | 4.71% | |
| 2024 | 2.20 EUR | 4.63% | |
| 2023 | 1.50 EUR | — | |
| 2022 | 2.20 EUR | 4.38% | |
| 2020 | 3.00 EUR | 5.07% | |
| 2020 | 4.00 EUR | 7.62% | |
| 2019 | 4.75 EUR | 4.56% | |
| 2018 | 4.50 EUR | 2.96% | |
| 2017 | 2.89 EUR | 2.07% | |
| 2017 | 4.25 EUR | 3.05% | |
| 2016 | 3.75 EUR | 2.88% | |
| 2015 | 3.25 EUR | 2.27% | |
| 2014 | 2.50 EUR | 2.18% | |
| 2013 | 2.25 EUR | 3.33% |
Earnings history & estimates
Historical earnings performance shows how consistently the company meets or exceeds analyst expectations. Forward estimates provide insight into expected profitability and growth trajectory.
Historical earnings performance
Upcoming earnings report
Analyst estimates for upcoming periods
Key financial figures
Selected income statement, balance sheet and cash flow figures. Annual and quarterly, based on reported IFRS/GAAP financials.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 19.68B | 39.72B | 41.42B | 39.41B | 33.77B |
| Operating income (EBIT) | 1.53B | 832.00M | 776.00M | 1.76B | 1.79B |
| Net income | -165.00M | 1.17B | 1.16B | 112.20M | 1.44B |
| Free cash flow | 1.12B | 996.00M | 1.18B | 126.30M | 1.08B |
| Total assets | 17.79B | 36.97B | 37.75B | 37.93B | 35.84B |
| Equity | 3.93B | 14.35B | 13.68B | 13.26B | 12.19B |
| Net debt | 5.32B | 4.24B | 4.25B | 5.23B | 4.24B |
PWP Leeway UG (haftungsbeschränkt)
