HANNOVER (dpa-AFX) - The automotive supplier and tire manufacturer Continental performed better in the third quarter than experts had expected. The cost reductions resulting from job cuts in the automotive supply business took effect, as did price increases for customers. In addition, the tire business is running smoothly. In terms of sales, Conti came under pressure due to lower car production and the difficult business with other industrial customers and now also expects slightly less for the year as a whole. However, the Hanover-based company was able to avoid the feared renewed forecast reduction in the automotive supply business, which is about to be spun off. Conti shares, which are listed on the DAX, rose on Monday.

The stock, which has been weak so far this year, gained almost six percent to 59.82 euros in the morning. JPMorgan analyst Jose Asumendi spoke of a good quarter despite weak end markets in the plastics technology division Contitech. Michael Aspinall from investment house Jefferies wrote that Conti showed strength in tires. Above all, however, the Group made a positive statement on the planned spin-off of the automotive supply business by the end of next year.

Total sales fell by four percent to 9.83 billion euros in the third quarter. However, the operating result adjusted for special effects grew unexpectedly strongly by 36 percent to 873 million euros. The corresponding margin rose by 2.6 percentage points to 8.9 percent. Both in the automotive supply sector, which was negatively impacted by the weakness of the industry, and in the tire division, the Group was able to make noticeable gains and achieve better results than analysts had expected.

On balance, Conti made a profit of 486 million euros, almost 63 percent more than in the previous year. A payment made by the former Group subsidiary Vitesco in connection with proceedings relating to the diesel scandal, which have now been concluded, also contributed to this.

The management around CEO Nikolai Setzer lowered the Group's sales forecast for 2024 to between 39.5 and 42 billion euros. This is 500 million euros less than previously. One of the reasons for this is the assumption that the production of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles will fall this year compared to 2023. In addition, Contitech is struggling with a persistently weak industrial environment in Europe and North America, said CFO Olaf Schick. "As this weak phase is lasting longer than expected, we are examining additional measures to take account of the economic development," said the manager.

The tire division benefited from a good start to the winter tire business, among other things. Conti intends to expand production in Thailand and invest more than 300 million euros in a plant there.

Conti is maintaining its target range for the Group's adjusted operating margin at around 6.0 to 7.0 percent. Thanks to cost reductions and job cuts as well as an improved outlook for the final quarter, Conti is sticking to its targets for car deliveries. Experts had feared a further forecast reduction here.

The automotive supply business has long been the problem child in the Group. CEO Setzer wants to trim the business for profitability with around 7,150 job cuts in administration and research and development. He is planning to spin off the division on the stock exchange; the reviews are still ongoing. "Automotive is well on the way to meeting the requirements for the spin-off, which is currently under investigation, by the end of 2025," Setzer said confidently. "The measures we have adopted and consistently implemented to improve earnings are working."

Parts of the Contitech division that have to do with customers from the automotive industry are also under scrutiny. They are to be offered to interested parties this year.

The tax rate at Conti is now likely to be around 30 percent higher this year than previously estimated at 27 percent. Provisions for proceedings in connection with tax payments in Italy also cost money.