** Shares in Air Liquide AIRP.PA rise around 2.3% after the French industrial gases supplier published first-half results in line with expectations, confirmed its operating margin guidance for 2026
** H1 revenue came at 13.72 billion euros ($15.86 billion), while analysts polled by Vara expected it at 13.73 billion euros
** "This should be a reassuring print in the context of very weak prints elsewhere in the sector," J.P. Morgan says
** Air Liquide expects to further raise its operating margin and recurring net profit in 2025, aiming for a 200 bps margin improvement by end-2026
** The 2026 operating margin targets are "already looking conservative," Jefferies says
** Shares are on track for their best day in nearly three months
($1 = 0.8653 euros)
(Reporting by Olivier Cherfan)
((olivier.cherfan@thomsonreuters.com))
