FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - A disappointing outlook weighed on Fresenius shares early on Wednesday. The share price at the broker Lang & Schwarz fell in the morning by 1.6 percent below the Xetra closing price of the previous day. In initial comments, traders said that the targets did not meet expectations. This overshadowed the annual figures, which were decent according to initial voices.

Fresenius is forecasting organic sales growth of three to six percent for 2024. Adjusted operating profit is expected to increase by four to eight percent excluding exchange rates. In 2023, the DAX-listed company had slipped deep into the red due to the deconsolidation of dialysis specialist Fresenius Medical Care (FMC). According to the trader, however, the profit trend in 2023 was slightly better than expected./tih/jha/