DuPont forecasts strong 2026 profit on healthcare gains, restructuring

Feb 10 (Reuters) - Industrial materials maker DuPont DD.N forecast full-year adjusted profit above analysts' expectations after it beat fourth-quarter earnings estimates on Tuesday, helped by higher sales in its healthcare segment and by business restructuring.

The company has undergone a strategic reorganization as it attempts to streamline operations, as escalating production costs in Europe and increasingly stringent environmental regulations have compelled the global chemicals industry to reassess strategies.

Last year, DuPont said it would sell its heat-resistant fiber business, Aramids, which houses brands such as body armor maker Kevlar, to peer Arclin for $1.8 billion.

The company's board also greenlit the previously announced separation of its electronics business, Qnity Electronics, a segment that includes semiconductor technologies and interconnect solutions, in 2025.

Net sales at its healthcare and water technologies segment rose 4% to $821 million in the reported quarter, compared with a year ago, driven by growth in medical packaging and medical devices, as well as strength in industrial water markets.

Quarterly net sales at its diversified industrials segment fell 3% to $872 million as ongoing weakness in construction, printing and packaging markets weighed on results.

The Wilmington, Delaware-based company expects adjusted profit to be between $2.25 and $2.30 per share in 2026, compared with analysts' average estimate of $2.17 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

On an adjusted basis, the company posted a profit of 46 cents per share for the three months ended December 31, compared with analysts' estimate of 43 cents per share.