27.04.2023 06:56:05

EQS-News: KION Group with strong start to 2023

EQS-News: KION GROUP AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results
KION Group with strong start to 2023 (news with additional features)

27.04.2023 / 06:56 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.


KION Group with strong start to 2023

  • Revenue up 1.7 percent to 2.8 billion (Q1 2022: 2.7 billion)
  • Adjusted EBIT of 156.0 million (Q1 2022: 170.3 million)
  • 5.6 percent adjusted EBIT margin (Q1 2022: 6.2 percent)
  • Significantly positive free cash flow of 104.9 million (Q1 2022: minus 432.6 million)
  • Upgraded 2023 outlook for Industrial Trucks & Services segment and KION Group Supply Chain Solutions outlook confirmed

 

Frankfurt am Main, April 27, 2023 As already published on April 19, 2023, KION Group started strongly into 2023, despite a continued challenging market environment. The positive development of the Groups business was mainly due to the Industrial Trucks & Services (ITS) segment performing much stronger than expected in the first quarter of 2023.

The ITS segment, which focuses on forklift trucks, warehouse technology, and associated services, grew revenue by 16.7 percent year-on-year to 2.0 billion (Q1 2022: 1.7 billion). ITS made good progress executing the sizeable order book that was built last year, with positive effects on revenue growth. Dynamic price increases implemented in 2022 materialized already in the first quarter of 2023 and boosted revenue growth earlier than expected.

Adjusted EBIT in the ITS segment rose substantially to 176.6 million (Q1 2022: 114.2 million), corresponding to a strong adjusted EBIT margin uplift to 8.8 percent (Q1 2022: 6.6 percent). The main contributing factors were the improving supply chain situation and operational and commercial agility, which allowed the business to bring orders forward.

Putting measures in place to boost profitability

We are off to a strong start, said Rob Smith, Chief Executive Officer of KION GROUP AG. Our growth in the ITS segment underlines the effectiveness of our measures. The Group is on track to achieve sustainable profitability improvements and further strengthen its resilience.

Adjusted EBIT for the KION Group came in at 156.0 million (Q1 2022: 170.3 million), exceeding company expectations. The corresponding adjusted EBIT margin for the first quarter was 5.6 percent (Q1 2022: 6.2 percent). Net income for the period decreased to 73.5 million year-on-year (Q1 2022: 80.2 million). Free cash flow was clearly positive at 104.9 million (Q1 2022: minus 432.6 million). A key factor in addition to the level of operating profit was a nearly unchanged level of working capital compared to the end of 2022.

Group revenues increased by 1.7 percent to 2.8 billion (Q1 2022: 2.7 billion), driven by improving supply chain conditions and dynamic price increases in the ITS segment, which boosted revenues earlier than expected. The service business grew 10.5 percent, mainly due to higher revenue volumes in the after-sales and rental business.

Revenue and EBIT in the Supply Chain Solutions (SCS) segment were in line with the Groups expectations. Against the backdrop of lower order volume in 2022, especially in the project business, segment revenues fell by 23.3 percent to 783 million (Q1 2022: 1.0 billion). Order volume decreased mainly due to customers holding back capital expenditure decisions. By contrast, the segments revenue from the service business increased by 20.3 percent. The service share is now 31.6 percent (previous year: 20.1 percent).

The SCS segment returned to profitability following a loss in 2022, with an adjusted EBIT in the first quarter of 2023 of 7.1 million (Q1 2022: 74.0 million), or a margin of 0.9 percent (Q1 2022: 7.3 percent). The expected softer results reflect the execution of low-margin projects from previous years as well as a lack of bought-in parts that caused project delays.

Outlook

The KION Group has made a strong start to 2023. The business performance of the Industrial Trucks & Services segment was much better than expected.

The improving supply chain situation meant that production and delivery could be ramped up, which allowed the sizeable order book built up in 2022 to be worked through at a faster pace. The resulting effects of newer orders being brought forward are likely to continue to have a positive impact on revenue and adjusted EBIT in the Industrial Trucks & Services segment over the remainder of the year.

The Supply Chain Solutions segment is expected to see a noticeable increase in revenue and an improvement in adjusted EBIT, especially in the second half of 2023, thanks to a growing proportion of higher-margin customer projects in the order book.

KION Group key performance indicators for the first quarter, which ended March 31, 2023

million Q1 2023 Q1 2022 Difference
Revenue

Industrial Trucks & Services
Supply Chain Solutions
2,781.0
 
2,004.8
782.5
2,734.5
 
1,718.4
1,019.8
1.7%
 
16.7%
-23.3%
 
Order book [1]

Industrial Trucks & Services
Supply Chain Solutions
 
6,686.6
 
3,756.6
3,000.3
7,077.8
 
3,817.6
3,327.5
-5.5%
 
-1.6%
-9.8%
Adjusted EBIT [2]
 
Industrial Trucks & Services
Supply Chain Solutions
 
156.0
 
176.6
7.1
170.3
 
114.2
74.0
 
 -8.4%
 
54.6%
-90.4%
Adjusted EBIT margin [2]
 
Industrial Trucks & Services
Supply Chain Solutions
5.6%
 
8.8%
0.9%
6.2%
 
6.6%
7.3%
-
 
-
-
Net income for the period 73.5 80.2 -8.3%
Free cash flow [3] 104.9 -432.6 > 100.0%
Earnings per share () 0.55 0.61 -9.2%
Order intake

Industrial Trucks & Services
Supply Chain Solutions
2,444.3

1,956.5
497.5
2,900.1

2,082.1
843.2
-15.7%

-6.0%
-41.0%
Employees [4]
(FTEs, incl. apprentices/trainees)
41,196 41,149 0.1%


[1] Figure as at the reporting date of December 31.
[2] Adjusted for purchase price allocation items and non-recurring items.
[3] Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operating activities plus cash flow from investing activities.
[4] Number of employees stated in full-time equivalents as at December 31.

Raised outlook for 2023

On April 19, 2023, the Executive Board of KION GROUP AG revised the target figures for 2023 that it had published in the outlook section of the 2022 annual report for the Group and the Industrial Trucks & Services segment. The target figures for the Supply Chain Solutions segment remain unchanged.

Outlook for 2023
    KION Group   Industrial Trucks
& Services
  Supply Chain
Solutions
    Outlook
2023
  Outlook
2023
 adjusted
  Outlook
2023
  Outlook
2023
 adjusted
  Outlook
2023
  Outlook
2023 unchanged
Revenue1   minimum
11.0 billion
  minimum
11.2 billion
  minimum
7.8 billion
  minimum
8.0 billion
  minimum
3.2 billion
  minimum
3.2 billion
Adjusted EBIT1   minimum
550 million
  minimum
615 million
  minimum
600 million
  minimum
665 million
  minimum
65 million
  minimum
65 million
Free cash flow   minimum
500 million
  minimum
565 million
       
ROCE   minimum
5.0%
  minimum
5.5%
       
                         
1 Disclosures for the Industrial Trucks & Services and Supply Chain Solutions segments also include intragroup cross-segment revenue and effects on EBIT.

 

The Company

The KION Group is one of the worlds leading providers of industrial trucks and supply chain solutions. Its full spectrum of services includes industrial trucks, such as forklift trucks and warehouse trucks, as well as integrated automation technologies and software solutions for the optimization of supply chainsincluding all related services. The KION Groups solutions ensure the smooth flow of materials and information in customers warehouses, production plants, and distribution centers in over 100 countries.

The MDAX-listed group is the largest manufacturer of industrial trucks in the EMEA region based on the number of units sold in 2021. Based on revenue for the year 2021, the KION Group is the leading overseas manufacturer in China, and including domestic manufacturers, the third-largest supplier there. The KION Group is also one of the worlds leading warehouse automation providers, based on 2021 revenue.

At the end of 2022, more than 1.7 million industrial trucks from the KION Group were in use by customers from all manner of sectors and of varying sizes on six continents. The Group currently employs over 41,000 people and generated revenue of approx. 11.1 billion in the 2022 financial year.

You can access up-to-date image material for the KION Group via our image database https://mediacenter.kiongroup.com/categories as well as on our respective brands websites.

(fgr)
 

Disclaimer
 
This communication and the information contained herein are for informational purposes only and do not constitute a prospectus or an offer of securities for sale in the United States or any other jurisdiction, or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Future results may deviate significantly from the results currently expected, and due to various risk factors and uncertainties such as changes in the business, economic, or competitor situation, changes in legislation, outcomes of technical studies, exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties regarding litigation or investigative proceedings, and the availability of financial resources. This particularly applies in respect of currently unforeseeable further developments in connection with the war in Ukraine, and the geopolitical consequences of the war, and in respect of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting impact on KION GROUP AG and its subsidiaries and on the wider economic and political environment in the markets in which KION GROUP AG and its subsidiaries operate. We do not assume any responsibility for updating the forward-looking statements contained in this release.
 

Further information for media representatives

Frank Grodzki
Vice President External Communication & Group Newsroom
Telephone +49 (0)69 201 107 496
Cell +49 (0)151 65 26 29 16
frank.grodzki@kiongroup.com
 

Christopher Spies
Senior Manager Corporate Communications
Cell +49 (0)151 14 06 52 27
christopher.spies@kiongroup.com

 

Further Information for Investors

Sebastian Ubert
Vice President Investor Relations
Telephone +49 (0)69 201 107 329
sebastian.ubert@kiongroup.com
 

Raj Junginger
Senior Manager Investor Relations
Telephone +49 (0)69 201 107 942
raj.junginger@kiongroup.com


Additional features:

Picture: https://eqs-cockpit.com/c/fncls.ssp?u=b6f96b27098364ae248ccaf5fdba1ca3
Subtitle:

File: KION Group_Press Release Q1 2023


27.04.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.
Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Language: English
Company: KION GROUP AG
Thea-Rasche-Straße 8
60549 Frankfurt/Main
Germany
Phone: +49 69 20110-0
E-mail: info@kiongroup.com
Internet: www.kiongroup.com
ISIN: DE000KGX8881
WKN: KGX888
Indices: MDAX
Listed: Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
EQS News ID: 1618423

 
End of News EQS News Service

1618423  27.04.2023 CET/CEST

fncls.ssp?fn=show_t_gif&application_id=1618423&application_name=news&site_id=smarthouse

Analysen zu KION GROUP AGmehr Analysen

06.12.24 KION GROUP Overweight JP Morgan Chase & Co.
04.12.24 KION GROUP Equal Weight Barclays Capital
04.12.24 KION GROUP Hold Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG (Berenberg Bank)
03.12.24 KION GROUP Buy UBS AG
29.11.24 KION GROUP Buy Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
Eintrag hinzufügen
Hinweis: Sie möchten dieses Wertpapier günstig handeln? Sparen Sie sich unnötige Gebühren! Bei finanzen.net Brokerage handeln Sie Ihre Wertpapiere für nur 5 Euro Orderprovision* pro Trade? Hier informieren!
Es ist ein Fehler aufgetreten!

Aktien in diesem Artikel

KION GROUP AG 33,22 -1,80% KION GROUP AG