GEA Raises Outlook for 2022 Following Strong Third Quarter
GEA Center Düsseldorf. (Image source: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft)
Revenue is now forecast to grow by more than 7 percent on an organic basis (previously: more than 5 percent). EBITDA before restructuring expenses at constant exchange rates is now expected to be at the upper end of the range of EUR 630 million to 690 million. For ROCE, the company now also anticipates a figure at the upper end of the range of 24 to 30 percent (at constant exchange rates).
“In what is still a difficult environment, we have once again demonstrated the robustness and resilience of GEA’s business model,” explains CEO Stefan Klebert. “Our profitable growth accelerated in the third quarter again despite the supply chain challenges and the impact of the war in the Ukraine. Based on our very good performance in the first nine months, we have raised our outlook for fiscal year 2022.”
Rise in order intake and revenue
In the third quarter of 2022, order intake rose by 1.6 percent to a high level of EUR 1,371.7 million (Q3 2021: EUR 1,349.9 million). Among the factors contributing to this increase were five major orders (each with a volume of more than EUR 15 million) in the Liquid & Powder Technologies division, amounting to a total of EUR 128 million. Organically, a slight decrease of 0.7 percent was recorded, as the major orders in the prior-year period totaling EUR 167 million included an exceptionally large order in the New Food segment.
Revenue rose significantly by 12.9 percent in the reporting period to EUR 1,353.6 million (Q3 2021: EUR 1,199.3 million). Organic revenue growth amounted to 10.2 percent. This growth is attributable in particular to the New Food, Dairy Farming, Pharma and Chemicals customer industries. The share of service revenue rose from 33.7 percent in the prior-year quarter to 34.5 percent.
Strong organic revenue growth pushes up EBITDA
EBITDA before restructuring expenses rose by 17 percent in the third quarter to EUR 198.7 million (Q3 2021: EUR 169.9 million). All divisions contributed to this development except for Heating & Refrigeration Technologies due to the divestments in this area. The corresponding EBITDA margin grew by 0.5 percentage points to 14.7 percent (Q3 2021: 14.2 percent).
Profit for the period climbed by 32 percent to EUR 107 million (Q3 2021: EUR 81.1 million). Earnings per share increased accordingly to EUR 0.61 (Q3 2021: EUR 0.45) and earnings per share before restructuring expenses improved to EUR 0.66 (Q3 2021: EUR 0.48).
Net liquidity declined to EUR 235.1 million as of September 30, 2022, compared with EUR 358.4 million in the prior-year period, due to the share buyback program and the increase in net working capital. Net working capital as a percentage of revenue increased to 8.9 percent (Q3 2021: 7.2 percent). This increase is attributable to higher inventories due to the ongoing supply chain bottlenecks and the increase in safety stock.
Despite the higher net working capital, capital employed (averaged over the last four quarters) remained virtually unchanged at EUR 1,635 million. Accordingly, return on capital employed (ROCE) increased from 24.6 percent to 30.6 percent.
Overview of the first nine months of 2022
In the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, order intake rose by 10 percent (organic: 8.6 percent) to EUR 4,319 million (previous year: EUR 3,926 million). Revenue rose by 9.7 percent (organic: 8.7 percent) to EUR 3,751 million (previous year: EUR 3,420 million). EBITDA before restructuring expenses climbed by 13.4 percent to EUR 504.4 million in the reporting period (previous year: EUR 444.7 million). The corresponding EBITDA margin improved by 0.4 percentage points to 13.4 percent (previous year: 13 percent). At EUR 255.9 million, profit for the period was significantly higher than in the first nine months of the previous year (EUR 214.7 million). Earnings per share increased accordingly from EUR 1.19 to EUR 1.45 and earnings per share before restructuring expenses improved from EUR 1.34 to EUR 1.62.
GEA named 2022 “Investors’ Darling” of the MDAX
In September 2022, manager magazin named GEA the 2022 “Investors’ Darling” of the MDAX index. In the annual competition, HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management analyzes the capital market communications of DAX, MDAX and SDAX companies. Assessment criteria include investor relations performance, capital market perception and reporting.
Source: GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
