Orkla stock gains on completed candy acquisition and Q2 EBIT rise

Published on 09/21/2026 at 14:12 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Orkla stock rose after the completed acquisition of The European Candy Group on September 17, 2026. Q2FY26 adjusted EPS increased 3% to NOK 1.60 and EBIT grew 2.5%.

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Orkla stock (NO0003733800) traded at NOK 579.05 on September 21, 2026, after falling NOK 16.60, or 2.79 percent, in the latest quoted session. Euronext listed the completed acquisition of The European Candy Group on September 17, 2026, giving the stock a fresh corporate catalyst. For investors, the key question is whether that deal can add enough scale to offset the softer top line in the latest quarter.

Q2FY26 figures

According to ScanX on September 21, 2026, Orkla's underlying adjusted EBIT rose 2.5 percent in Q2FY26, while adjusted EPS increased 3 percent to NOK 1.60. The same report said reported revenue fell 5 percent and reported EBITDA also declined 5 percent, showing that currency effects still weighed on the group. Jotun was the standout, with underlying revenue growth of 11 percent and profit growth of 21 percent.

That mix matters because the quarter was not a clean broad-based recovery. ScanX said Orkla's consolidated EBIT margin held at 10.5 percent, cash flow from operations in the first half reached NOK 2.1 billion, and net interest-bearing debt stood at NOK 20.7 billion, or about 2 times EBITDA.

Deal and balance sheet

The completed purchase of The European Candy Group on September 17, 2026, adds another moving part to the portfolio just as Orkla keeps paying capital back to shareholders. ScanX said the company completed a NOK 4 billion share buyback and paid NOK 6 billion in dividends, while year-to-date repurchases totaled NOK 2.3 billion.

Orkla's latest reported numbers point to a split picture: stronger paint-related earnings, weaker reported sales, and a still-manageable debt load. That combination leaves the shares sensitive to how quickly the new candy business contributes to earnings.

Stock near 600

Orkla stock changed hands at NOK 579.05 on September 21, 2026, with the latest quoted move at minus NOK 16.60. The market value and the Q2FY26 figures together frame the stock's next test: whether the new acquisition and Jotun's contribution can support earnings momentum above the 10.5 percent EBIT margin.