GEA Reports Strong First Quarter 2022

The corresponding margin improved by a clear 0.9 percentage points to a record high of 12.3 percent. Return on capital employed (ROCE) climbed to 29.3 percent while net working capital as a percentage of revenue improved to 6.1 percent and net liquidity grew substantially to EUR 412 million.

“GEA made a very good start to the year, and did so at a time when the world is facing major political, economic and social challenges,” said CEO Stefan Klebert. “We have again significantly improved our key financial figures. Our order intake as well as our EBITDA margin have reached new record levels in the first quarter. In addition, revenue grew organically for the fifth consecutive quarter. This demonstrates the resilience of GEA’s business model.”

Order intake increased to record level
Order intake rose significantly by 20.4 percent to a record level of EUR 1,544 million in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1 2021: EUR 1,282 million), driven among other things by three major orders (volume of over EUR 15 million each) for a total of EUR 92 million. Organic growth came to 20.4 percent. Revenue went up by 5.7 percent in the reporting period to EUR 1,126 million (Q1 2021:
EUR 1,065 million) and by 6.6 percent on an organic basis. Customer industries contributing to this growth were primarily Beverage, Pharma, Dairy Farming and Chemicals. The share of service revenue increased to 36.2 percent in the first quarter of 2022 (Q1 2021: 35.2 percent).

Further improvements in profitability, financial position and ROCE
EBITDA before restructuring expenses, at EUR 138 million, was 14.1 percent higher year on year (Q1 2021: EUR 121 million). The corresponding EBITDA margin improved by 0.9 percentage points to 12.3 percent (Q1 2021: 11.4 percent). This margin growth was notably due to a higher gross margin in the new machinery business and an increased service share.

Profit for the period went up by 27.2 percent in the first three months to EUR 72.2 million (Q1 2021: EUR 56.7 million). Earnings per share rose correspondingly from EUR 0.31 to EUR 0.41.
Earnings per share before restructuring expenses came to EUR 0.43 in the first quarter, compared to EUR 0.39 in the prior-year quarter.

Net liquidity grew significantly from EUR 270 million to EUR 412 million in the first quarter. Net working capital as a percentage of revenue improved substantially from 8.2 percent in the prior-year quarter to 6.1 percent.

Largely as a result of the lower net working capital and a decrease in non-current assets, there was a marked fall in capital employed (average over the last four quarters) from EUR 1,816 million to
EUR 1,580 million as of March 31, 2022. In line with this, return on capital employed (ROCE) climbed – on higher EBIT before restructuring expenses – from 19.3 percent to 29.3 percent in the first quarter of 2022.

Outlook for 2022 confirmed
GEA has confirmed its outlook for fiscal year 2022. Revenue is forecast to grow on an organic basis by more than 5.0 percent. EBITDA before restructuring expenses at constant exchange rates is expected to be in a range between EUR 630 million and 690 million. For ROCE, the company anticipates a figure between 24.0 and 30.0 percent (at constant exchange rates)