Hensoldt’s management has put nearly €193,000 of their own money into the company’s stock in the past week, a vote of confidence that comes even as the defense contractor absorbs the blow of a cancelled frigate program. The purchases by CEO Oliver Dörre and board member Inka Tews, executed at prices between €67 and €69, signal that the leadership sees the radar specialist’s near-term prospects intact. The stock has since climbed to €72.52, marking a 15% rebound from its 52-week low of €63.12.
That low was hit after the German defense ministry pulled the plug on the F126 frigate program on June 24. Originally budgeted at €10 billion, the project’s cost had spiraled toward €18 billion, prompting the cancellation. Hensoldt had been contracted to supply TRS-4D naval radar systems worth roughly €200 million. More than a third of that sum had already been recognized as revenue, and the company expects only a low double-digit million-euro impact on 2026 earnings. The annual guidance — around €2.75 billion in sales with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 18.5% to 19.0% — remains unchanged.
The cancellation, however, is only half the story. Berlin has pivoted to a plan to acquire eight MEKO A-200 frigates, with the first four vessels projected to cost €6.3 billion. Crucially, Hensoldt’s TRS-4D radar is already deployed on similar MEKO-based designs, including Brazil’s Tamandaré-class frigates. The company is in active discussions with shipyards and customers about securing a role in the new program. A successful conversion would turn the F126 loss into a seamless follow-on contract.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Hensoldt?
Hensoldt’s broader momentum provides a buffer against the setback. Order intake hit a record €1.48 billion in the first quarter of 2026, and the total order backlog has swelled to around €10 billion. The half-year report due on July 31 is expected to clarify the exact contractual handling of the remaining F126 volumes — a key catalyst for the stock.
Despite the recent recovery, Hensoldt shares remain down roughly 23% year to date. Yet with the MEKO opportunity on the horizon and management backing their own conviction with cash, the market is beginning to price in a recovery narrative that extends well beyond the frigate shock.
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