Airbus SE (EADSY) shares hit a record high Tuesday after the European planemaker posted stronger-than-expected third quarter earnings as its commercial plans and helicopters surprised on the upside.

Airbus earned €697 million ($812 million) for the three months ending in September, a figure that topped analysts' forecasts but was still down 4% year-on-year. Revenues for the third quarter climbed 2% to €14.24 billion, about 3% ahead of the company compiled analyst forecasts, while the earnings figure came in about 13% ahead of expectations. The company also said it had discovered problems relating to the use of agents to sell U.S. arms technology, exposing it to potential fines.

Airbus shares climbed 4.51% in Paris trading to change hands at an all-time high of €88.54 and topped all gainers on France's CAC-40.

"Good numbers, particularly in Airbus commercial, with no change to guidance despite seeing slightly fewer A320neo deliveries," noted Goldman Sachs analysts Chris Hallam and Peter Lapthorn. "However, the company has disclosed additional compliance issues, this time in the US relating to ITAR restrictions (arms control). Concerns around the potential timing/size of penalties in the US may weigh on sentiment."

Airbus said it had uncovered inaccuracies in declarations to the U.S. State Department relating to the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations, known as ITAR. The discovery adds to Airbus's legal woes in Europe, where the company is in the midst of corruption probes in both the U.K and France linked to payments made to middle men for the sale of airplanes.

Airbus said Tuesday that it was still cooperating with authorities on the European investigations and that it was too early to comment on the potential outcome of the inquiry.

Airbus, the world's No.2 plane maker after Boeing Co. (BA) - Get Report , said commercial aircraft revenues rose to €10.8 billion, up 4% in the third quarter, compared to a year earlier. Pre-tax earnings from commercial aircraft climbed 25% year-on-year to €440 million.

Airbus delivered 90 A320neo planes over the first nine months of the year, putting it slightly behind its target of 200 planes, the bulk of which are due to ship in the fourth quarter following engine problems that have delayed deliveries.

"The strong backlog and a healthy market environment continue to support our commercial aircraft production ramp-up plans," said Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders. "We confirm our outlook even though this year's delivery schedule is extremely back-loaded."

The company's long struggling helicopter division posted pre-tax earnings of €72 million for the third quarter, up 29% year-on-year as cost cutting offset an 8% decline in sales to €1.47 billion. Airbus said its grounded H225 Super Puma fleet of helicopters, which were pulled from service following accidents, is expected to resume full commercial service.

Airbus left its full year guidance unchanged. The company expects to deliver more than 700 commercial aircraft this year and is projecting mid-single-digit percentage growth in adjusted pre-tax earnings and earnings per share.

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