Skip to main content

Wacker Neuson improves Q3 earnings in despite challenges

Light and compact equipment manufacturer Wacker Neuson Group saw revenue and earnings for the third quarter of 2016 increase relative to 2015. The company said that seen over a nine-month period, revenue remained at the prior-year level, balancing out the drop in earnings experienced during the first half of the year only partly. Despite adverse market factors, including ongoing crises in many emerging markets and key industries such as the agricultural sector, the oil and gas industry and mining, gro
November 14, 2016 Read time: 3 mins
Light and compact equipment manufacturer 1651 Wacker Neuson Group saw revenue and earnings for the third quarter of 2016 increase relative to 2015.

The company said that seen over a nine-month period, revenue remained at the prior-year level, balancing out the drop in earnings experienced during the first half of the year only partly.

Despite adverse market factors, including ongoing crises in many emerging markets and key industries such as the agricultural sector, the oil and gas industry and mining, group revenue for the third quarter of 2016 rose 2 % relative to the previous year to reach €315.7 million (Q3/2015: €311.0 million).

Adjusted to discount currency effects, this corresponds to an increase of 3%.

Revenue in the core market of Europe increased by 9% in the third quarter this year. This was driven primarily by stable demand from the construction sector in German-speaking countries as well as in France, Denmark, Sweden and the Benelux countries.

In contrast, revenue in the Americas decreased by 15%. “In North America, demand for new equipment is being dampened by high inventory levels among dealers and rental chains plus large volumes of used equipment circulating on the market at low prices,” the company said.

Despite growth in China, the group experienced falling demand in Australia and New Zealand. Revenue decreased by 23% in the Asia-Pacific region.

Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for the third quarter of 2016 increased 25% to €19.3 million (Q3/2015: €15.5 million). The EBIT margin rose to 6.1% (Q3/2015: 55). At €12 million, profit for the period was higher than in the previous year (Q3/2015: €8.5 million).

At the close of the first nine months of the year, group revenue was €1,013.5 million (9months/2015: €1,017.4 million).

During the year the group established new production sites in Brazil and, in future, will do so in China. It consolidated different spare parts services at its compact equipment production facilities in Europe to create a central warehouse in Nuremberg and also merged its R&D centre for light equipment from Munich with a production site in Reichertshofen. The group also launched an eCommerce platform.

However, “levels of uncertainty and volatility remain high in our markets”, said chief executive Cem Peksaglam. “Business in North and South America, which account for 21% of our group revenue, developed below our expectations as did markets in Australia and Africa. However, we expect Europe to remain a robust sales region overall.”

The company expects revenue and earnings for fiscal 2016 to come in at the lower end of its published forecast – between €1,375 million and €1,425 million; EBIT margin between 6.5-7.5%. It has earmarked around €120 million in total for investments for fiscal 2016 (2015: €118 million).

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Volvo CE achieve best ever Q1 sales
    April 27, 2012
    Volvo CE has reported record first quarter year sales. Sales between January 1 and March 31, 2012 were up 17% on the same three months of 2011. Despite a 26% decline in the overall construction machine sales market in China during the first quarter of this year, Volvo CE says it maintained sales in the country and reinforced what the company claims is its number one position in the Chinese wheel loader and excavator market together with its joint-venture partner, SDLG. Volvo CE says it achieved a 111% incre
  • Global growth in machine rental
    May 20, 2015
    The machine rental sector is undergoing significant expansion worldwide – Dan Gilkes reports. Plant hire, equipment rental, leasing, call it what you will, being able to use a machine when and where you need it, with no further concerns relating to ownership costs, depreciation or sudden repair bills, remains a compelling argument for many contractors. Which is one of the main reasons for the continued growth in popularity of equipment rental across the world. Rental has been big business in the UK, the US
  • Volvo CE benefits from strong sales of construction machines
    July 18, 2019
    Volvo CE reports strong financial performance on the back of healthy sales. The firm says that improvements in the key European and North American markets, coupled with a strong focus on its service business, volume flexibility in the industrial system and tight cost control have helped the company to deliver a good all round performance in its second quarter 2019 results. Net sales in the second quarter increased by 10%, amounting to SEK 26.814 billion, compared with SEK 24.403 billion in Q2 2018. Operati
  • Caterpillar posts record annual sales, revenues and adjusted profit per share
    February 7, 2024
    Caterpillar set a new company annual sales, revenues and adjusted profit record in 2023.