Updated Version 2 - DuPont raises full-year profit forecast as demand in healthcare and aerospace drives better-than-expected performance

Information about share price and analyst comments has been added in paragraph 2 and paragraph 5.

Reuters, November 3 - DuPont (DD.N) on Tuesday raised its annual profit outlook and forecast fourth-quarter earnings above Wall Street estimates, mainly thanks to strong demand in the healthcare, aerospace, and industrial water treatment markets, which drove its third-quarter results.

The industrial materials manufacturer’s share price rose nearly 2% in premarket trading.

The company has been streamlining its business portfolio, focusing on high-growth end markets such as semiconductors, healthcare, water treatment technologies, and aerospace, while also returning cash to shareholders through stock buybacks and asset divestitures.

As the global chemicals industry faces weak demand in key end markets, DuPont has also raised prices to offset higher raw material and energy costs, while improving production efficiency and reducing debt to support profitability.

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DuPont’s robust third-quarter performance indicates the company not only succeeded in raising prices to pass cost inflation on to customers but also drove margin expansion. Morningstar analyst Seth Goldstein said the market is responding positively to management’s upbeat outlook.

The company raised its 2026 adjusted core profit forecast from the prior range of $1.75 billion to $1.77 billion to nearly $1.79 billion.

It now expects full-year adjusted earnings per share of $7.47 to $7.52, up from the previous expectation of $7.17 to $7.32.

Chief Financial Officer Antonella Franzen said DuPont expects full-year results to reach or exceed the upper end of its previous guidance.

DuPont said it completed a $250 million accelerated share repurchase program in the third quarter and has nearly completed a $100 million open-market share repurchase.

The company plans to repurchase an additional $250 million in shares in the fourth quarter.

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Net sales for its healthcare and water treatment technology segment rose nearly 4% year-on-year to $865 million, while its diversified industrials segment sales grew 4.2% to over $1 billion.

According to data compiled by London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), the company expects adjusted earnings per share of $1.90 to $1.95 for the current quarter, higher than the analyst average estimate of $1.87 per share.

DuPont, headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.09 for the three months ended September 30, beating analysts’ expectations of $1.87 per share.

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