Following the positive first half of 2024, the third quarter also went well for Krones. The company remained on its profitable growth track and, after the first nine months, confirmed the Group financial targets for the full year 2024.
With revenue up 11.2% in first three quarters and order intake remaining at a high level, Krones’ strong revenue growth continued into the third quarter of 2024. At €1,318.7 million, revenue increased by 13.2% compared to the previous year (€1,164.7 million). Efficiency in production improved due to good material availability. In the previous year, production output was affected at times by tight supplies of electrical components. Part of the revenue growth is due to the acquisition of Netstal Maschinen AG.
In the first nine months of 2024, revenue went up by 11.2% year on year, from €3,485.6 million to €3,874.8 million. In total, growth in the first three quarters was therefore within the full-year 2024 guidance range of 9% to 13%.
- Krones’ revenue growth continued in the third quarter (+13.2%) versus prior year. In the first nine months of 2024, Krones increased revenue by 11.2% year on year to €3,874.8 million, which is within the growth forecast for the full year 2024.
- At €1,323.2 million, order intake from July to September 2024 exceeded the figure in the preceding quarter (€1,310.2 million) and almost matched the high level of the third quarter of 2023 (€1,327.7 million). Order intake in the first nine months of 2024 increased slightly compared to the strong previous year (€4,113.6 million) to €4,116.1 million. At €4,363.6 million, the order backlog was 6.6% higher at the end of September 2024 than a year earlier.
- Despite higher material and personnel costs, the EBITDA margin increased in the first three quarters due to the company’s efficiency gains from 9.5% in the previous year to 10.1%. This is within the guidance range for the full year 2024.
- The company significantly improved free cash flow (before M&A activities) between January and September by €311.1 million to +€145.0 million (previous year: −€166.1 million).
- Based on the positive development in the first three quarters, Krones has confirmed the guidance for the full year 2024. The company expects revenue growth of 9% to 13%, an EBITDA margin of 9.8% to 10.3% and ROCE of 17% to 19%.
