FRANKFURT, Jan 5, 2026, 05:36 ET — Premarket
Rheinmetall AG shares (RHMG.DE) were up about 7% in early Frankfurt trading on Monday, with the stock last indicated around 1,712 euros. That followed a Friday close near 1,602 euros. 1
The move tracked a sharp bid for European defence names after U.S. military action in Venezuela over the weekend, which pushed the sector index to its highest since late October. Jefferies analysts said the Venezuela strike could shift Washington’s focus to other geopolitical flashpoints and keep pressure on governments to raise defence budgets faster. 2
Rheinmetall also flagged fresh domestic demand. The company said Germany’s Bundeswehr extended a 2022 framework contract — an umbrella deal that allows “call-off” orders over time — for 30mm ammunition for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, with a new order worth several hundred million euros. It said the expanded framework runs until 2029 and provides for delivery of several hundred thousand cartridges worth around 1 billion euros. 3
The rally comes after a volatile stretch for Europe’s defence complex, where share prices have swung with each shift in the geopolitical narrative. Rheinmetall is closely watched because its ammunition and vehicle businesses tend to move quickly with procurement headlines, unlike longer-cycle platforms such as jets or ships.
In the wider market, European stocks hit a record high on Monday, with Rheinmetall among the top drivers in Germany’s DAX. 4
“Given the unexpected turn of events in Venezuela over the weekend, it remains to be seen whether the Trump administration has an appetite for more regime changes,” said Vasu Menon at OCBC in Singapore. 5
Technically, momentum indicators look stretched after the jump. Rheinmetall’s 14-day relative strength index (RSI) — a momentum gauge that traders use to spot overheated moves — was above 80, a level often associated with “overbought” conditions after fast gains. 6
Investors will be watching for follow-through after the initial spike, and whether the latest Bundeswehr call-off points to larger, repeat procurement orders as Germany seeks to rebuild ammunition stocks.
But sentiment can turn quickly. Any cooling in geopolitical tensions, or renewed speculation about a Ukraine ceasefire, could sap demand for defence stocks and trigger profit-taking, especially in names that have rallied hard on headlines.
