Resonac Raises 2026 Core Operating Profit Forecast to 250 Billion Yen
Key Facts
Resonac raised its 2026 core operating profit forecast to 250 billion yen from 196 billion yen, up 28% from its previous estimate, and increased its revenue forecast to 1.235 trillion yen from 1.165 trillion yen. Reuters quoted the company as saying the forecast revision followed higher-than-expected demand for semiconductor materials related to artificial intelligence. The new revision puts the company’s expected core profit above its August estimate, which had then risen 40% to 196 billion yen from 140 billion yen. In its forecast published in February, the company had targeted annual revenue of 1.31 trillion yen and core operating profit of 140 billion yen. The company thus links the improvement in its annual outlook to its nine-month results, which showed strong growth in its chip-materials businesses.
In the nine months ended September, core operating profit rose 136% to 164.1 billion yen, while revenue increased 14% to 871.9 billion yen, Reuters reported. Net profit attributable to owners of the parent company was 94.6 billion yen, compared with 6 billion yen in the same period a year earlier. The figures highlight the breadth of the improvement during the period, with growth in core profit, revenue and net profit. The largest operating contribution came from the semiconductor and electronics materials segment, where core operating profit more than doubled to 158.6 billion yen. The segment’s results put it at the forefront of the figures explaining the increase in the annual core profit forecast.
On the sales front, sales of back-end semiconductor materials rose 56% during the nine months. The company said growth was underpinned by demand for advanced chips, including chips used in artificial intelligence applications. This performance provides detail on the reason Resonac gave for raising its forecast: demand for materials used to manufacture advanced chips was higher than expected. Sales growth in this category is also consistent with core operating profit more than doubling in the semiconductor and electronics materials segment. The revision remains tied to performance in the period ended September and the updated forecasts for fiscal 2026.
But the higher core profit forecast came alongside a cut in the operating profit forecast to 115 billion yen from 160 billion yen. The revised estimate takes into account one-off losses of 99 billion yen related to strategic options for the graphite electrode business, Reuters reported. This separates two trends in the company’s forecasts: an improvement in core operating profit driven by the semiconductor materials business, and a decline in operating profit after accounting for losses related to the graphite business. The increase in the core estimate alone therefore does not reflect the trajectory of all annual profitability measures. The revision shows that the impact of strong demand for chip materials did not prevent the company from lowering its overall operating profit estimate.
Against the backdrop of the forecast, the August estimate for core operating profit had risen to 196 billion yen from 140 billion yen, an increase of 40%, following record quarterly results for the semiconductor and electronics materials segment. The February forecast for the same year had combined revenue of 1.31 trillion yen with core operating profit of 140 billion yen. The current revision lowers the revenue forecast to 1.235 trillion yen compared with the February estimate, while leaving it above the 1.165 trillion yen estimate that preceded the November revision. The company had cautioned in its annual forecast that actual results could differ materially because of factors including foreign exchange rate fluctuations and changes in market supply and demand conditions. The annual figures therefore remain estimates that could be affected by these factors through the end of the period.
Resonac kept its annual dividend forecast at 65 yen per share, according to Reuters. In trading, the company’s shares, listed under ticker 4004.T, closed at 12,000 yen on November 10, 2026, according to EL7 data. The closing price came in the session preceding the news publication date, while no verified figures for the stock’s session high or low are available among the facts. The projected dividend remains unchanged alongside the revised revenue and profit forecasts. The company will continue to monitor the impact of demand and market conditions on its actual results, factors it cited in the caution accompanying its annual forecast.