HelloFresh shares hit record low on weak 2026 forecast

HelloFresh SE shares plummeted to an all-time low on Wednesday as the Germany-based meal-kit provider forecast a decline in revenue and profit for 2026. The company's stock fell as much as 12.7% in early trading before recovering slightly to trade down 11% at 09:15 GMT. This sharp decline follows a series of challenges, including shifting consumer habits and operational difficulties in key markets. For the 2026 financial year, the firm expects a revenue decrease of approximately 3% to 6%, driven largely by manufacturing bottlenecks in the United States that have impacted customer retention. The company also projected that its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (AEBITDA) will fall between 375 million and 425 million euros. Management noted that severe winter weather disruptions across Europe and North America in the first quarter caused a one-off negative impact of roughly 25 million euros. This latest guidance comes after the company reported disappointing preliminary results for 2025 and announced plans to cease operations in Italy and Spain due to a lack of profitability. HelloFresh is currently attempting to pivot its business model from traditional meal kits to ready-to-eat meals, a segment that has yet to perform as expected. Since its peak in August 2021, the company has lost nearly 90% of its market value as the pandemic-driven surge in home cooking has faded. In its annual report, the company addressed broader economic and geopolitical risks. > "We currently do not expect material impacts from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, provided the situation resolves quickly." The firm cautioned that a prolonged conflict could lead to higher costs from inflation and a further decline in consumer sentiment.