BMW (BMW.DE): analysis in plain words
Is BMW cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
BMW (BMW.DE) is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Xetra) and we classify it in automotive. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against BMW according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
BMW (BMW.DE) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | €60.98 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 5.9x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | -7.9% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 4.9% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 7.3x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 7.48% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | €36.5 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The BMW figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any BMW.DE figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How BMW makes money
BMW earns most of its money in its Automotive segment, selling BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce cars. It also has Motorcycles (BMW Motorrad) and Financial Services, which provides loans and leases to its car buyers. Its biggest markets are Europe, China and the US.
Over the last 12 months, BMW brought in revenue of €128.0 billion. For every 100 it sells, BMW keeps 12.4 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 5.2 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 146,064 full-time employees, that is about €877,000 of revenue per employee.
BMW against its sector
To know whether a BMW figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares BMW with the median of the 5 automotive companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | BMW | automotive median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 5.9x | 20.2x (5) |
| Revenue growth | -7.9% | +1.1% (11) |
| Net margin | 4.9% | 0.5% (11) |
| Dividend yield | 7.48% | 0.82% (11) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 7.3x | 5.9x (9) |
In short, against the typical automotive company, BMW trades on a lower P/E, grows more slowly and earns a wider margin. By size, BMW ranks number 3 of 5 automotive companies quoted in EUR on Fintols.
The bull case for BMW
These are the strengths in the BMW figures as of November 4, 2026:
- On a P/E basis BMW trades cheaper than its sector: 5.9x its annual earnings, against 20.2x for the automotive median (5 companies with data).
- For income seekers, BMW pays a dividend yielding 7.48% at today's price, using 42% of its profit to fund it.
- BMW generates real cash: €1.7 billion of free cash flow over 12 months, 4.7% of its stock market value.
The main risk for BMW
Debt is heavy: BMW carries net debt equal to 7.3x its annual EBITDA. With high interest rates or a weak year, interest payments eat into what it can invest or pay out.
On top of that: bMW sales fell 7.9% in the latest quarter against the same quarter a year earlier: if the decline drags on, profit usually follows.
And, like the rest of automotive, BMW is exposed to the electric-car price war, tariffs and how cyclical car sales are.
Frequently asked questions about BMW
Is it a good time to buy BMW stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell BMW, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, BMW stock trades at €60.98, 38% below its 52-week high (€97.92) and 17% above its low (€51.98). Its P/E is 5.9x against a automotive median of 20.2x, and 7.1x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With BMW, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does BMW pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, BMW pays €4.40 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 7.48%. It uses 42% of its profit to pay it, which leaves room to keep paying it if profit dips. Its average dividend yield over the last five years is 5.57%. The automotive median on Fintols is 0.82%.
Is BMW stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, BMW trades at 5.9x its last 12 months of earnings: cheaper than the automotive median (20.2x). Including its debt, BMW is valued at 10.0x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make BMW expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are BMW's competitors?
On Fintols we compare BMW with Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Stellantis, which are also in automotive. As of November 4, 2026, Mercedes-Benz is worth €40.2 billion and trades on a P/E of 7.3; Volkswagen is worth €35.7 billion and trades on a P/E of 33.7; Stellantis is worth €12.1 billion. Each has a side-by-side comparison with BMW below.
BMW competitors
- Mercedes-Benz (MBG.DE) analysis · BMW vs Mercedes-Benz comparison
- Volkswagen (VOW3.DE) analysis · BMW vs Volkswagen comparison
- Stellantis (STLAM.MI) analysis · BMW vs Stellantis comparison
To understand BMW better
- How to Read a Balance Sheet: A Beginner's Guide
- Dividend Growth Investing: FCF Payout Ratio and Compounding
More companies like BMW: automotive stocks and Euro Stoxx 50 companies. Open the full BMW.DE analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about BMW, not investment advice.