Daimler Truck Stock 2026: Analysts Bullish as US Market Cycle Nears Turnaround
- Why Are Major Banks Suddenly Bullish on Daimler Truck?
- The Curious Case of Underwhelming Market Reaction
- Technical Signals Suggest Cautious Optimism
- When Will Fundamentals Catch Up to the Hype?
- FAQs: Daimler Truck Investment Considerations
Wall Street's brightest minds are placing big bets on Daimler Truck's comeback story. With two major banks upgrading their price targets by over 20% and the stock showing technical strength, we unpack whether this German industrial giant is poised for a North American revival or if investor caution still prevails.
Why Are Major Banks Suddenly Bullish on Daimler Truck?
The BTCC research team notes an unusual consensus forming among institutional analysts. RBC Capital Markets just boosted their target to €48 (from €42) with an "Outperform" rating, while Morgan Stanley named it a "Top Pick" in European industrials with a €47 target. Both houses see the same catalyst - what Morgan Stanley's heavy machinery analyst calls "the coming inflection point in Class 8 truck orders."
Digging into shipment data from TradingView, we see the critical pattern: North American freight volumes typically bottom 6-8 months before truck orders rebound. With the downturn now in its 18th month, RBC's transportation team believes we're approaching the sweet spot where Daimler's market-leading 40% share in US heavy trucks becomes valuable again.
The Curious Case of Underwhelming Market Reaction
Here's where it gets interesting - despite the analyst cheerleading, Daimler Truck shares (currently €41.32) have only gained 2.5% today and 10% YTD. That lukewarm response reveals market skepticism. As one Frankfurt trader told me, "Everyone remembers how cyclical this business is - great margins at the top, brutal cuts at the bottom."
The numbers tell the story:
- Still 7% below 52-week high (€44.39)
- 71% annualized volatility - nearly double the DAX average
- 14-day RSI at neutral 37.8 (no extreme positioning)
Technical Signals Suggest Cautious Optimism
Chartists will appreciate the clean technical setup - price comfortably above both the 50-day (€37.61) and 200-day (€37.95) moving averages. That golden cross formation last November marked the start of this uptrend. But as the BTCC technical analysis team warns, "High volatility stocks often retest breakout levels before continuing upward."
Source: TradingView
When Will Fundamentals Catch Up to the Hype?
All eyes turn to March 19, 2026 when Q4 2025 earnings arrive. Analysts expect €3.93 EPS for full-year 2026, but the real story will be management's commentary on North American order books. As a veteran industry watcher, I've learned these cycles turn on two things: freight rates and fleet ages. With US truck average age at record highs (9.2 years per ACT Research), the replacement wave is coming...the question is when.
This article does not constitute investment advice. Market data sourced from TradingView and company filings.
FAQs: Daimler Truck Investment Considerations
What's driving analyst optimism about Daimler Truck?
The consensus view anticipates an end to the US truck market downturn, where Daimler holds dominant market share. RBC and Morgan Stanley see 20%+ upside from current levels.
Why hasn't the stock reacted more strongly to upgrades?
Cyclical industries often show this pattern - analysts lead the recovery narrative while investors wait for hard order data. The 71% volatility also deters some institutional buyers.
What key metrics should investors monitor?
Watch North American Class 8 truck orders (reported monthly by ACT Research) and the company's inventory turnover ratio in upcoming earnings.