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

  • US machine manufacturers hit hard by global downturn in construction
    November 30, 2015
    The latest report from the US-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers, AEM, makes for sobering reading. For the first six months of 2015, US exports of construction equipment dropped by 17% compared with the same period in 2014. The US manufacturers have been hit doubly, first by a tough international market and secondly by the high value of the US Dollar.
  • Deutz sees new orders rise 43% in Q1 this year
    April 17, 2018
    German engine manufacturer Deutz saw new orders rise in the first quarter 2018 by nearly 43% per cent year-on-year to almost €575 million. The figure for the corresponding period in 2017 was €403 million, while in the fourth quarter of 2017 it was nearly €383 million. The company said that the significant rise in new orders was partly due to very favourable business conditions as well as to changed customer procurement behaviour. In the light of the strong demand and the introduction of emissions standard
  • Caterpillar’s latest results show some positive signals
    April 22, 2016
    Caterpillar has released its first quarter results for 2016, which show some positive results although market conditions remain tough. The firm’s first-quarter 2016 sales and revenues hit US$9.5 billion, down from $12.7 billion in the first quarter of 2015. First-quarter 2016 profit/share of $0.46 was down from a profit of $2.03/share in the first quarter of 2015. Excluding restructuring costs, profit/share was $0.67, compared with $2.07/share in the first quarter of 2015.
  • The new agile world of the construction equipment industry
    June 22, 2015
    while worldwide for 2015 a crystalball would be helpful, in Europe the sector has already listed specific priorities it wants to tackle, and among these are the upcoming emissions regulations (see separate story), external trade and access to foreign markets, and market surveillance.