Group revenue for the second quarter of 2016 amounted to EUR 381.4 million and was thus almost equal to the record figure reported the previous year (Q2 2015: EUR 382.1 million). Adjusted to discount currency effects, this corresponds to an increase of 2 percent. Second quarter revenue grew 21 percent relative to the first quarter of the year (Q1 2016: EUR 316.4 million).
“We have every reason to be satisfied with our performance in the second quarter of 2016 in light of the ongoing crises in the agricultural and energy sectors in our home markets of North America and Europe, as well as increasing uncertainty in the UK, South Africa, Poland, Russia and Turkey, coupled with the difficult situation in South America and Australia,” explains Cem Peksaglam, CEO of Wacker Neuson SE.“ The Group generates a large share of its revenue in Europe. Here, revenue for the second quarter rose 6 percent compared with the previous year. Revenue in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions fell by 14 and 31 percent respectively compared with the previous year.
Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) remained almost unchanged from the previous year at EUR 33.4 million (Q2 2015: EUR 34.0 million). The EBIT margin amounted to 8.8 percent (Q2 2015: 8.9 percent). Profitability was thus significantly higher than in the first quarter of 2016, when the EBIT margin amounted to 5.5 percent. Profitability was bolstered by the rise in revenue relative to the first quarter (+21 percent).
In the first half of the year, Group revenue came to EUR 697.8 million (H1 2015: EUR 706.4 million). Performance across the business segments varied significantly. At 52 percent, the compact equipment segment accounted for the lion’s share of revenue. At the close of the first six months, revenue for the segment was at the same level as the prior-year period. In contrast, light equipment revenue fell 5 percent and accounted for 29 percent of Group revenue. Revenue for the services segment, which includes the Group’s repair and spare parts business, increased 3 percent compared with the prior-year quarter. This segment thus accounted for 19 percent of revenue.
Primarily due to the fall in earnings in the first quarter of 2016, EBIT decreased 23 percent in the first half relative to the previous year to reach EUR 50.7 million, which placed the EBIT margin at 7.3 percent (H1 2015: EUR 65.7 million; 9.3 percent). The crises in the energy and agricultural sectors in particular are having a negative impact on earnings, not least because they are causing a strong shift in Wacker Neuson’s regional and product mix. Profit for the period came to EUR 33.8 million in the first half-year (H1 2015: EUR 45.2 million). This corresponds to earnings per share of EUR 0.48 (H1 2015: EUR 0.64).
The Group opened its assembly plant in Itatiba, São Paulo (Brazil) in April. The facility is manufacturing mobile generators for the regional market, currently at a small scale. In June, the Group signed agreements for the construction of a new production facility in China. The site is located in the city of Pinghu, around 30 km from Shanghai. Compact excavators will be manufactured for the local market from 2018 onwards.
Many recent political and economic events have created considerable uncertainty and volatility on global markets. “These challenging market conditions are having a significant impact on our customers across the globe and require exceptional initiative and flexibility from us,” adds Peksaglam. “High volatility and growing uncertainties in the ag and construction business, increased risks in some European markets and the persistent market weaknesses in North America and Australia, forced us to lower our expectations for the second half“, explains Peksaglam.
In light of these developments, the Executive Board has lowered its forecast for the year as a whole. It now expects revenue to amount to between EUR 1,375 and EUR 1,425 million (previously: EUR 1,400 to 1,450 million) and the EBIT margin to move between 6.5 and 7.5 percent (previously: 7.0 and 8.0 percent). The Group has earmarked around EUR 100 million in total for investments throughout fiscal 2016 (2015: EUR 118 million).
