immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Umsatzwachstum

  • New strategy pays off – more profit and green share of sales increases

    New strategy pays off – more profit and green share of sales increases

    Holcim achieved half-year sales of 7.87 billion Swiss francs, an increase of 1.8 per cent in local currency. In a press release, the company reported a disproportionately high increase in its recurring EBIT (recurring operating profit) of 10.8 per cent in local currency and 3 per cent in Swiss francs to CHF 1.44 billion. The recurring EBIT margin thus improved by 90 basis points to 18.3 per cent. Earnings per share also rose by 7.4 per cent year-on-year to CHF 1.57 before impairments and disposals.

    The building materials company also reported increased demand for sustainable solutions. ECOPact low-CO2 concrete accounted for 31 per cent of total sales of ready-mix concrete in the first half of the year, compared to 25 per cent in the previous year. Sustainable ECOPlanet cement accounted for 35 per cent of cement sales, compared to 32 per cent a year ago.

    “I would like to thank all of our 48,000 employees around the world for their contribution to our excellent half-year results. Holcim is the leading partner for sustainable construction and we are unlocking significant business opportunities through our new strategy ‘NextGen Growth 2030’ – which lays the foundation for a new era of growth and value creation,” CEO Miljan Gutovic is quoted as saying.

    For the full year, Holcim is forecasting 3 to 5 percent sales growth in local currency, 6 to 10 percent growth in recurring EBIT in local currency, a recurring EBIT margin of more than 18 percent, free cash flow before leases of around CHF 2 billion and over 20 percent growth in recycled construction and demolition materials.

  • Double-digit sales growth despite market challenges

    Double-digit sales growth despite market challenges

    Zehnder Group AG expects to improve its sales and profitability year-on-year in the first half of 2025. Specifically, the Aargau-based specialist for ventilation and radiators expects to achieve a double-digit increase in sales to between EUR 380 million and EUR 390 million, Zehnder announced in a press release. The target range for the EBIT margin is 8 to 9 per cent. In the same period last year, Zehnder realised an EBIT margin of 6.6 percent.

    The internationally active group of companies is basing its forecast on increased demand for Zehnder’s products in the ventilation segment in North America and Europe. Improvements in sales and profitability were also supported by the acquisition of the Spanish company Siber in summer 2024. By contrast, sales in the radiator segment are currently weaker than in the past. This confirms “the strategy of consistently focussing on ventilation system solutions”, writes Zehnder.

    The Group will communicate the unaudited figures for the first half of 2025 on 25 July. An outlook for the year as a whole will also be presented. Zehnder believes that the results in the second half of the year will depend on developments in its own customers’ inventory build-up, the impact of economic stimulus programmes in key markets and US customs policy. The company estimates the impact of any tariff extensions in the USA on its own business activities to be low.

  • Higher margins through optimisation in the construction supply sector

    Higher margins through optimisation in the construction supply sector

    According to a press release, Arbonia, the Arbon-based building supplier, increased its turnover by 10.2 per cent to 556.3 million Swiss francs in the 2024 financial year despite a difficult situation, particularly in the German market. This includes the acquisitions of Dimoldura in Spain and Rozière in France as well as the Czech company Lignis. However, excluding currency and acquisition effects, a decline of minus 5.4 per cent was recorded, the report continues. This nevertheless represents an improvement on the previous year (minus 8.2 per cent).

    The decline was mainly due to a continued fall in volumes as a result of the ongoing decline in new residential construction activity combined with rising average labour costs and negative exchange rate effects.

    According to the press release accompanying the annual report, construction activity in Arbonia’s largest European markets did not yet recover noticeably in 2024. Instead, the second half of the year was weaker than expected in Germany, an important market for Arbonia: declining building permits and high financing costs are cited as problems here.

    EBITDA including special effects increased by 107.8 per cent to CHF 66.3 million in the financial year. This corresponds to an increase in the EBITDA margin from 6.3 to 11.9 per cent, according to the press release. This includes a profit of around 29 million Swiss francs from the sale of the Zelgstrasse site in Arbon. EBITDA excluding special effects increased by 22.1 per cent to 41.7 million Swiss francs. This corresponds to an increase in the EBITDA margin from 6.8 per cent to 7.5 per cent.

  • Record sales of Swiss multinational speciality chemicals group

    Record sales of Swiss multinational speciality chemicals group

    Sika set a new sales record in the 2024 financial year. At 11.76 billion Swiss francs, the record result of 2023 was exceeded by 4.7 percent, the global speciality chemicals company for construction and industry announced in a press release. Increased synergies from the integration of the construction chemicals business MBCC acquired in 2022 and local acquisitions of Kwik Bond in the USA, Vinaldom in the Dominican Republic and Chema in Peru contributed to the sales growth. Organic sales growth amounted to 1.1 per cent.

    In addition to the acquisitions, all regions contributed to the record sales. At 11.2 per cent in local currencies, sales growth was strongest in the Americas region. In the EMEA and Asia/Pacific regions, growth rates of 7.3 and 2.4 percent respectively were realised in local currencies.

    “Over the past twelve months, Sika has successfully held its own in a market environment that remains very challenging and achieved a new sales record,” said Thomas Hasler, CEO, in the press release. “Our growth initiatives, our powerful and sustainable innovations and our consistent sales strategy for further market penetration are successful and impressively demonstrate that we are gaining further market share.” Sika will communicate its full Annual Report 2024 on 21 February. The Group expects operating profit at EBITDA level to increase at a faster rate than sales.

  • Sika presents a strong start to the year

    Sika presents a strong start to the year

    Sika generated record sales of almost 2.65 billion Swiss francs in the first quarter of 2024, the globally active speciality chemicals group for construction and industry announced in a press release. This corresponds to year-on-year growth of 13.8 per cent. In local currencies, growth of 20.1 per cent was recorded.

    The MBCC acquisition, consolidated from May 2023, was the main contributor to the new sales record, Sika explains. Specifically, the former construction chemicals business of the BASF Group accounted for the lion’s share of sales growth with acquisition effects totalling 19.9 percent. In addition, Sika achieved double-digit sales growth in local currencies in all market regions.

    “Sika has made a dynamic start to the new financial year and achieved strong growth in the first quarter”, Group CEO Thomas Hasler is quoted as saying in the press release. According to the company, Sika also continued to grow organically in a declining overall market. “The successful integration of MBCC with its complementary products and markets and its highly motivated employees is generating additional growth and will enable us to further increase our market share,” says Hasler.

    For the current business year as a whole, Sika anticipates sales growth of between 6 and 9 per cent in local currencies. The operating result at EBITDA level should increase disproportionately to sales.

  • Excellent supply chain management enables Belimo to achieve double-digit sales growth

    Excellent supply chain management enables Belimo to achieve double-digit sales growth

    Overall, Belimo increased its net sales in local currencies by 16.6 percent. In Swiss francs, net sales increased by 15.7 percent to CHF 765.3 million. The positive market development ensured increased demand, especially in Europe and America. Sales growth in local currencies was 15.9 percent for the Europe market region and 18.1 percent for America. In the Asia Pacific market region, the increase was 14.4 percent. Air applications net sales grew by 15.5 percent in local currencies and water applications by 17.9 percent.

    capacity expansions
    The strong growth in 2021 accelerates the capacity expansion planned as part of the Belimo growth strategy. The group will expand its capacities in production, logistics and customization over the next few years with higher investments in all market regions. Corresponding projects have already been initiated in 2021:

    • In the market region Europe, Belimo has signed a contract to purchase a plot of land next to the existing building in Hinwil (Switzerland) in order to accommodate expansions in logistics and customizing.
    • In the Americas market region, logistics capacities were expanded at the Danbury site (USA) in order to create space for future growth and to continue to guarantee high delivery reliability.
    • In the Asia Pacific market region, Belimo has purchased its existing location in Shanghai (China) in order to provide additional capacity and space for warehousing, customizing, logistics and offices