SAP clients reviewing cloud services spending amid tariff risks, CEO tells WSJ

Published 23/07/2025, 12:30
© Reuters.

Investing.com - SAP (ETR:SAPG) is seeing some clients take longer to subscribe to its cloud services due to wariness around sweeping U.S. tariffs, CEO Christian Klein has said.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Klein flagged that the caution was apparent in industries like auto manufacturing, which is considered to be particularly exposed to President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda. Carmakers are now facing a 25% levy on finished vehicles made overseas imported into the United States.

Klein added that, although SAP has "strong momentum," it remains "really hard to predict how the second half will unfold."

Germany-listed shares in SAP (ETR:SAPG) fell by more than 3% on Wednesday after the information technology group posted better-than-anticipated quarterly profit and sales, but opted not to lift its full-year outlook, disappointing some investors hoping for a guidance raise.

For the three months ended June 30, the German software manufacturer reported adjusted earnings of 1.50 euros per share on revenue of 9.03 billion euros, above consensus estimates of 1.43 euros and 9.09 billion euros, respectively. 

Cloud revenue jumped 24% versus a year ago to 5.13 billion euros in the second quarter, slowing from a 27% uptick in the prior quarter and 25% in the corresponding period in 2024.

Looking ahead, SAP said it expects 2025 outlook adjusted operating profit to between 10.3 billion euros and 10.6 billion euros, unchanged from its prior projections. A year earlier it stood at 8.15 billion euros.

SAP said it was facing "elevated levels of uncertainty and reduced visibility," with CFO Dominik Asam flagging that the business was keeping close tabs on "geopolitical developments and public sector trends."

In a note, strategists at Deutsche Bank (ETR:DBKGn) warned that the guidance "leaves quite some margin for error."

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