Airbus shares sink after profit warning

PARIS — Shares in Airbus tumbled on Tuesday after the European aerospace giant reduced its annual financial targets due to lower deliveries and a charge related to its space unit. 

Airbus, the sixth biggest company on the Paris CAC 40 stock market index, was down around 11 per cent to 132.28 euros ($142) per share in late morning deals, its biggest drop in more than two years. 

Airbus dragged down the shares of other groups involved in the aviation sector, including Safran, Thales and Dassault Aviation. 

The European giant, which leads the aeroplane manufacturing sector along with US rival Boeing, said late Monday it now intends to deliver around 770 commercial aircraft in 2024, down from the 800 it forecast previously. 

It delivered 735 commercial aircraft last year. 

Deliveries are key for Airbus's finances as it gets paid when aircraft are transferred to customers. 

It also announced it would book a charge of 900 million euros ($965 million) for its satellite business.

The setbacks prompted Airbus to reduce its forecast for its 2024 operating profit to 5.5 billion euros, down from its previous guidance of between 6.5 billion and 7 billion euros. 

Deutsche Bank analysts described it as a "stunning profit warning" and no longer recommended buying company shares. 

"The dust needs to settle before we can turn positive again," they said in a note.

Chloe Lemarie, analyst at Jefferies investment firm, said Airbus "is facing more challenges than expected".

Airbus will release half-year results on July 30.