Baker Hughes Raises 2026 Guidance After Acquiring Chart Industries but Faces Investor Skepticism
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ:BKR) raised its 2026 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance following the $13.6 billion acquisition of Chart Industries, a manufacturer in industrial gas and clean energy markets. The company now forecasts revenue between $28.50 billion to $30.30 billion for 2026, up from its previous range of $26.65 billion to $28.05 billion. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to reach $4.88 billion to $5.48 billion compared to the earlier projection of $4.6 billion to $5.1 billion. Despite these optimistic forecasts, investors remain skeptical due to near-term margin pressures from LNG equipment timing and soft hydrogen demand. Additionally, Chart's earnings contribution for 2026 is expected to fall short of analyst expectations, with Baker Hughes projecting a range between $300 million to $400 million in adjusted EBITDA—below the anticipated $400 million mark. The acquisition marks an important step toward diversifying Baker Hughes' business beyond traditional oilfield services into LNG and energy technology. However, analysts like UBS's Josh Silverstein have trimmed their price targets due to integration costs and near-term margin concerns.
Topics: acquisition EBITDA_outlook guidance revenue_forecast