Positive trend on the stock markets
In fiscal 2025, the stock markets were shaped primarily by the continued easing of monetary policy, moderate global economic growth and the ongoing importance of the technology sector. Falling inflation rates allowed central banks to continue lowering interest rates after the cuts made in the previous year, which helped to bolster the stock markets. In a first half of the year marked by increased volatility, the announcement of US import tariffs at the start of April 2025 led to a downturn in the markets. However, they rebounded quickly due to the temporary pause and subsequent adjustment of US import tariffs, robust economic data and the prospect of further interest rate cuts.
As financing costs declined, energy prices remained stable and supply chains largely normalized, the stock markets trended predominantly upward over the remainder of the year. Robust corporate earnings – particularly in the technology sector, driven by advances in artificial intelligence – contributed significantly to the positive share price performance in the second half of the year. At the same time, geopolitical uncertainties persisted, and economic momentum in Europe and China remained sluggish.
The DAX posted its strongest year since 2019, closing 2025 at 24,490.41 points. This represented an increase of 23.0% compared with the end of 2024, when it was quoted at 19,909.14 points. The EURO STOXX 50 rose 18.3% in 2025, ending the year at 5,791.41 points.
Price performance of Continental shares in 2025 versus selected stock indexes
(indexed to January 1, 2025; Data source: Bloomberg. To enhance comparability, figures relating to Continental shares prior to September 18, 2025, have been adjusted to account for the effect from the spin-off of Aumovio.)
Subdued performance for traditional automotive stocks
Automotive stocks were subdued in fiscal 2025, underperforming the broader market. While some manufacturers benefited at times from more stable sales markets and price adjustments, large parts of the industry remained under pressure. European and American manufacturers in particular faced weakening demand in key sales regions, intense competition and continued high investment requirements. Political uncertainties, especially relating to trade measures such as tariffs and regulatory actions between Europe, China and the USA, also weighed on the sector.
The transition to electric mobility, rising cost pressure and overcapacity in certain markets led several established automotive manufacturers to revise their earnings and sales forecasts during the year. By contrast, some newer market participants, particularly from Asia, continued to expand their market positions and reported share price gains. The STOXX Europe 600 Automobiles & Parts recorded a 4.8% loss in 2025 compared with the end of 2024, taking it to 524.95 points.
Continental shares make significant gains
At the start of the year, Continental shares performed in line with the relevant indexes. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, the share price fell amid uncertainty over the future margin trend, particularly regarding the impact of announced import tariffs. However, the share price recovered immediately. On April 28, 2025, the share price was marked down to reflect the dividend of €2.50 for fiscal 2024 resolved by the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. Adjusted for the Aumovio spin-off, the share price rose from €48.30 at the end of the first quarter to €55.44 at the end of the first half of the year. Continental’s share price was volatile in the third quarter, with positive and negative momentum balancing each other out. Following the successful spin-off of the former Automotive and Contract Manufacturing group sectors in September and the announcement of preliminary figures for the third quarter of 2025 in October, Continental shares posted significant gains in the fourth quarter.
At the end of 2025, Continental’s shares were listed at €67.96. Compared with the 2024 year-end price, adjusted for the spin-off of Aumovio, of €48.49, this represents an increase of 40.1%. Taking into account a reinvestment of the dividend paid out on the distribution date, adjusted for the spin-off of Aumovio, the share price rose by 38.8% in 2025.
| Continental’s key bonds outstanding as at December 31, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WKN/ISIN | Coupon p.a. | Maturity | Volume in € millions | Issue price | Price as at Dec. 31, 2025 | Price as at Dec. 31, 2024 |
| A28XTR/XS2178586157 | 2.500% | Aug. 27, 2026 | 750 | 98.791% | 100.046% | 99.614% |
| A35138/XS2672452237 | 4.000% | March 1, 2027 | 500 | 99.658% | 101.627% | 102.247% |
| A30VQ4/XS2558972415 | 3.625% | Nov. 30, 2027 | 625 | 100.000% | 101.616% | 101.760% |
| A351PU/XS2630117328 | 4.000% | June 1, 2028 | 750 | 99.445% | 102.578% | 103.362% |
| A4DFM0/XS3075393499 | 2.875% | Nov. 22, 2028 | 750 | 99.610% | 100.026% | — |
| A4DFW3/XS3173656243 | 2.875% | June 9, 2029 | 600 | 99.494% | 99.423% | — |
| A383VK/XS2910509566 | 3.500% | Oct. 1, 2029 | 600 | 99.946% | 101.423% | 100.995% |
Performance of Continental bonds
Interest rates for bonds of European companies with credit ratings similar to Continental remained stable in the period under review, despite some fluctuations due to geopolitical uncertainties and economic challenges. The prices of Continental’s outstanding bonds declined slightly overall in the period under review. The associated increase in yield corresponds to the modest rise in the euro interest rate curve. The performance of Continental’s outstanding bonds therefore reflects the general interest rate trend in the bond market.
Successful placement of two euro bonds
Under the Debt Issuance Programme (DIP), two Continental AG euro bonds were successfully placed with investors in Germany and abroad in May and September 2025. The first euro bond was launched on the regulated market of the Luxembourg stock exchange on May 22, 2025, with an interest coupon of 2.875% p.a. and a term of three and a half years. With a nominal volume of €750 million, the issue price amounted to 99.610%. The second euro bond was likewise launched on the regulated market of the Luxembourg stock exchange on September 9, 2025, with an interest coupon of 2.875% p.a. and a term of three years and nine months. The nominal volume of the bond was set at €600 million. The issue price was 99.494%.
Repayment of a euro bond
The price of the 0.375% Continental bond that matured on June 27, 2025, started the year at 98.782%. On the due date, the repayment was made at a nominal value of €600 million.
Earnings per share
Net income attributable to the shareholders of the parent decreased by €1,333 million in 2025 to ‑€165 million (PY: €1,168 million). Basic earnings per share amounted to ‑€0.83 (PY: €5.84), while basic earnings per share from continuing operations amounted to ‑€2.10 (PY: €6.72). The figures for basic earnings per share were the same as for diluted earnings per share.
Dividend proposal of €2.70 for fiscal 2025
The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board have resolved to propose to the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, which will be held in Hanover on April 30, 2026, that a dividend of €2.70 per share be paid out for the past fiscal year. The remaining retained earnings are to be carried forward to new account. For fiscal 2024, a dividend of €2.50 per share was paid out on April 30, 2025.
Share capital unchanged
As at the end of fiscal 2025, the share capital of Continental AG still amounted to €512,015,316.48. It is divided into 200,005,983 no-par-value shares with a notional value of €2.56 per share.
In line with Article 20 of Continental AG’s Articles of Incorporation, each share grants one vote at the Shareholders’ Meeting. The current Articles of Incorporation are available on our website www.continental.com under Company/Corporate Governance. All shares have the same dividend and voting rights.
Free float stable at 54.0%
As in the previous year, free float as defined by Deutsche Börse AG amounted to 54.0% as at the end of 2025. The most recent change took place on September 17, 2013, when our major shareholder, the IHO Group, Herzogenaurach, Germany, announced the sale of 7.8 million Continental shares, reducing its shareholding in Continental AG from 49.9% to 46.0%.
As at the end of 2025, the market capitalization of Continental AG amounted to €13.6 billion (PY: €13.0 billion). Market capitalization on the basis of free float averaged €7.1 billion over the last 20 trading days of the reporting year (PY: €7.0 billion). Free-float market capitalization is the decisive factor for index calculation in the regulatory framework of Deutsche Börse AG. At the end of 2025, Continental AG ranked 36th in terms of free-float market capitalization on the DAX (PY: 39th).
Free-float distribution largely stable in 2025
As at the end of the year, we once again determined the distribution of free float of Continental shares by way of shareholder identification. We were able to assign 107 million of the 108 million shares held in the form of shares or alternatively as American depositary receipts (ADRs) in the USA to 961 institutional investors, banks and asset managers across 52 countries. The identification ratio was 99.5% (PY: 97.9%).
The identified shareholdings in Europe were higher than in the previous year at 53.8% of free float (PY: 47.7%).| Continental share data | |
|---|---|
| Type of share | No-par-value share |
| German stock exchanges (regulated market) | Frankfurt (Prime Standard), Hamburg, Hanover, Stuttgart |
| German securities code number (WKN) | 543900 |
| ISIN | DE0005439004 |
| Reuters ticker symbol | CONG |
| Bloomberg ticker symbol | CON |
| Index memberships (selection) | DAX Prime All Share Prime Automobile NISAX |
| Outstanding shares as December 31, 2025 | 200,005,983 |
| Free float as at December 31, 2025 | |
| Continental’s American depositary receipt (ADR) data | |
|---|---|
| Ratio | 1 share : 10 ADRs |
| SEDOL number | 2219677 |
| ISIN | US2107712000 |
| Reuters ticker symbol | CTTAY.PK |
| Bloomberg ticker symbol | CTTAY |
| ADR Level | Level 1 |
| Trading | OTC |
| Sponsor | Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
| ADRs issued as at December 31, 2025 | 11,160,290 (with 1,116,029 Continental shares deposited) |
The identified level of shares held by investors from the UK and Ireland declined year-on-year to 25.3% (PY: 27.1%).
The identified free-float holdings of German investors increased to 8.5% in the year under review (PY: 5.6%).
The free-float holdings of Scandinavian investors rose to 5.2% in 2025 (PY: 3.7%).
French investors held 6.6% of Continental free-float shares at the end of 2025 (PY: 4.3%).
Investors in other European countries increased their share of free float to 8.2% in 2025 (PY: 6.9%).
Shareholdings of investors in North America decreased year-on-year in 2025. In total, they held 41.4% (PY: 46.8%) of the free float in the form of shares or ADRs.
The identified shareholdings of investors in Asia, Australia and
Africa were at 3.8% at the end of 2025 (PY: 3.3%).
Continental share listings
Continental’s shares continue to be officially listed on the German stock exchanges in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover and Stuttgart on the regulated market. They are also traded on other unofficial stock exchanges in Germany and in other countries around the world.
Continental ADR listings
In addition to being listed on European stock exchanges, Continental shares are traded in the USA as part of a sponsored ADR program on the over-the-counter (OTC) market. They are not admitted to the US stock market.
Continental Investor Relations online
For more information about Continental shares, bonds and credit ratings, please visit www.continental-ir.com.
| Key figures of the Continental share | ||
|---|---|---|
| € (unless otherwise specified) | 2024 | 2023 |
| Basic earnings per share | –0.83 | 5.84 |
| Diluted earnings per share | –0.83 | 5.84 |
| Dividend per share | 2.701 | 2.50 |
| Dividend payout ratio (%) | —2 | 42.8 |
| Dividend yield3 (%) | 4.81 | 4.0 |
| Share price at year end | 67.96 | 48.49 |
| Annual average share price | 55.94 | 47.13 |
| Share price at year high | 67.96 | 57.98 |
| Share price at year low | 43.98 | 38.83 |
| Number of outstanding shares, average (in millions) | 200.0 | 200.0 |
| Number of outstanding shares as at Dec. 31 (in millions) | 200.0 | 200.0 |
All market prices are quotations of the Continental share in the Xetra system of Deutsche Börse AG. Data source: Bloomberg. To enhance comparability, figures relating to shares prior to September 18, 2025, have been adjusted to account for the effect of the spin-off of Aumovio.
1 Subject to the approval of the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting on April 30, 2026.
2 Not applied.
3 Dividend per share at the annual average share price.
