Bobst Group reports 19% higher sales with 10% lower net result

August 1, 2018 Off By Sebastian Reisig

Bobst Group recorded very good first half-year sales of CHF 762.5 million for the first six months of 2018, compared to CHF 643.2 million in the first half of 2017. The operating result (EBIT) decreased by CHF 4.6 million to CHF 35.2 million. The net result reached CHF 24.9 million, down from CHF 27.7 million in the previous year. Order entries increased by 13% and the order backlog is 14% higher than in the previous year. The Group has lowered its 2018 full year profit guidance and expects to achieve an operating result (EBIT) of higher than CHF 90 million for the full year 2018 (compared to slightly higher than CHF 119 million in 2017).

During the first half of 2018, consolidated sales amounted to CHF 762.5 million, representing an increase of CHF 119.3 million, or +18.6%, compared with the same period in 2017. This evolution was mainly driven by a high backlog at the beginning of the year and an overall good level of activity in all three Business Units. Volume and price variances had a positive impact of CHF 93.2 million, or +14.5%. An improvement of CHF 0.2 million came from the creation of two new entities in Vietnam and in the Netherlands.

The exchange rates had an overall positive impact on sales of CHF 25.9 million. The evolution due to the conversion of foreign currencies for consolidation accounts for CHF 19.7 million, or +3.1%, and the transactional impact on sales volume from our Swiss operations accounts for CHF 6.2 million, or +1.0%.

 

 

Sales by BU 30 June 2018 30 June 2017 Δ%
  (In million CHF) (In million CHF)  
BU Sheet-fed 391.0 302.3 +29.3
BU Web-fed 134.1 119.5 +12.3
BU Services 237.1 221.2 +7.2
Other 0.3 0.2 +32.5
Total 762.5 643.2 +18.6