Safran Posts €9 Billion Third-Quarter Sales, Beats €8.99 Billion Consensus

Safran reported third-quarter sales of €9 billion, up 13.4% organically, beating the €8.99 billion consensus compiled by the company. The French jet engine maker confirmed its 2026 forecast of mid-teens revenue growth and recurring operating income between €6.4 billion and €6.5 billion, Reuters reported on October 23, 2026.

Safran's Propulsion and Defence Sales

Safran is a French aerospace and defense group that supplies aircraft propulsion, equipment, interiors and defense electronics to Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, Dassault and government customers worldwide, according to akta.pro company records.

Propulsion, Safran's main division and half of its 2025 revenue, posted 13.2% organic sales growth in the quarter, with aftermarket revenue up 18.7%. The Equipment and Defence division generated €3.6 billion, above the €3.5 billion analysts expected.

"In defense, our activities are benefiting from robust market dynamics, and we are expanding our production capabilities to prepare for future growth," Chief Executive Olivier Andries said in a statement.

Safran co-produces LEAP jet engines for narrow-body Boeing and Airbus jetliners with GE Aerospace through their CFM joint venture, the world's largest engine maker by units sold. GE Aerospace raised its 2026 profit forecast for the second time this year, as demand for aircraft engine repairs and spare parts remained strong despite surging fuel costs that have squeezed airline profits.

Safran's Defense and Drone Deals on Record

Safran's recent company records include a June 2026 agreement to enter exclusive negotiations to acquire Exail Technologies, a maritime robotics and navigation specialist, at €128.50 per share, valuing the company at approximately €2.19 billion, with a mandatory public offer to follow. The same records show a 51/49 joint venture with THEON International for drone technologies, alongside THEON's separate €300 million debt-funded acquisition of HGH Systèmes Infrarouges for counter-drone systems, and two joint ventures with UAE-based Edge Group for next-generation missile development, one in the UAE and one in France.

Safran's Run-Up to the Quarter

On October 16, 2026, CFM International, the GE Aerospace and Safran joint venture, secured a provisional order for over 300 LEAP-1B engines from Turkish Airlines, TradingView reported. On October 14, 2026, Safran inaugurated a 5,700-square-meter extension to its Temara facility in Morocco, bringing the site to 31,400 square meters and creating 400 jobs, according to Morocco World News. On October 1, 2026, Safran said it plans to double its Texas turbojet production capacity, adding a new assembly line for the TR40 engine family, MarketScreener reported.

Safran's Confirmed 2026 Targets

Safran confirmed its 2026 forecasts on October 23, 2026, targeting mid-teens revenue growth and recurring operating income between €6.4 billion and €6.5 billion. The group had already raised its guidance in July, after posting stronger-than-expected first-half profits driven by demand for spare parts.