The Group reported revenue of EUR 1,866.2 million, which is an increase of 15.5 percent relative to the previous year (2020: EUR 1,615.5 million).
“Looking back on 2021, hard work and a concerted effort made this a successful year. We were hampered by overstretched and repeatedly disrupted supply chains. Raw material and component shortages repeatedly led to rework efforts and this, compounded by rising material prices and spiraling shipping costs, had a negative impact on margins. However, our employees worked tirelessly to get as many machines as possible onto our production lines and delivered to our customers despite all the obstacles,” explains Dr. Karl Tragl, CEO of the Wacker Neuson Group.
In Europe, revenue increased to EUR 1,477.5 million, a rise of 14.6 percent (2020: EUR 1,289.7 million). This clearly exceeded the previous record reached in 2019 (2019: EUR 1,379.0 million). Alongside the Group's domestic markets of Germany and Austria, which again emerged as growth drivers in the construction industry, business also developed very strongly in the UK. In the majority of countries in Southern, Eastern and Northern Europe, the Group was also able to report high double-digit growth, albeit against a lower baseline in some cases due to the impact of the pandemic. Once again, business with customers in the agricultural sector developed particularly positively. Despite the stable development of business in 2020 and the resulting strong baseline for comparison from that year – the fall in revenue amounted to only 1.9 percent – the Group managed to grow revenue in this segment by 14.5 percent to EUR 348.4 million (2020: EUR 304.3 million).
Revenue in the Americas – a region that was particularly hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – recovered in fiscal 2021, partly driven by a gradual upturn in demand from rental firms as the year progressed, rising 21.5 percent overall to reach EUR 328.6 million (2020: EUR 270.4 million). Business developed particularly well in Canada, where the Group was already able to exceed pre-crisis revenue levels.
In Asia-Pacific, revenue increased relative to the previous year by 8.5 percent to EUR 60.1 million (2020: EUR 55.4 million). While the Group continued to face a challenging market environment with surplus capacities and significant price pressure in China, business in Australia developed at a dynamic pace. The Group significantly increased its revenue in this market and also recorded growth in the double-digit percentage range relative to the pre-crisis year of 2019.
Marked increase in profitability
Group profitability rose significantly in fiscal 2021 – even when compared with the pre-crisis level of 2019. Following the sharp downturn in 2020, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) climbed 155.6 percent to EUR 193.0 million – fueled amongst other things by the rise in revenue flanked by stringent cost control measures – and was thus significantly higher than 2019 EBIT (2020: EUR 75.5 million, 2019: EUR 153.1 million). The EBIT margin reached 10.3 percent (2020: 4.7 percent, 2019: 8.1 percent). Earnings included a positive net effect from the reversal of allowances for doubtful receivables in the amount of EUR +13.5 million. In the previous fiscal year, value adjustments in the amount of EUR -33.3 million had a negative effect on earnings.
Net working capital ratio further reduced
Following a significant reduction in the net working capital ratio during the prior fiscal year, it fell lower still in 2021. At 26.7 percent, it reached the strategic target range of 30 percent or less of revenue (2020: 30.8 percent). In absolute terms, net working capital remained at the same level as the previous year.
High free cash flow results in positive net financial position
Buoyed by the significant increase in earnings and a reduction in non-current financial assets, gross cash flow at EUR 375.2 million almost doubled compared with the previous year (2020: EUR 197.9 million). Cash flow from operating activities (after investments in net working capital) amounted to EUR 331.7 million and was thus lower than the high prior-year figure (2020: EUR 420.0 million). 2020 saw a significant reduction in net working capital. Free cash flow before fixed-term investments in the amount of EUR 115.0 million amounted to EUR 264.1 million (2020: EUR 344.0 million). The high cash value pushed net financial debt[1] in fiscal 2021 into the negative range at EUR -0.8 million (December 31, 2020: EUR 122.9 million).
Guidance for 2022: Revenue projected between EUR 1,900 and 2,100 million, EBIT margin to lie between 9.0 and 10.5 percent
The Executive Board expects revenue to pan out between EUR 1,900 and 2,100 million in fiscal 2022. The EBIT margin is projected in the 9.0 to 10.5 percent corridor. In view of the staff shortages caused by the Omicron variant – both on the supply side and within the Wacker Neuson Group's production and logistics networks – the Executive Board expects tight supply constraints to continue with limited visibility into future developments. It is unlikely that the Group will be able to fully compensate for the resulting inefficiencies and the significantly higher input, shipping and energy costs compared with the previous year.
This forecast does not factor in the currently unpredictable impact of the war in Ukraine on macroeconomic developments and global supply chains.
Dividend proposal at the AGM
Wacker Neuson SE has adopted an attractive shareholder remuneration policy to ensure that shareholders enjoy a steady and appropriate share of the company's profit. The Wacker Neuson SE dividend policy provides for a payout per share of 40 to 60 percent of Group earnings per share. At the AGM on June 3, 2022, the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board will propose a dividend payout of EUR 0.90 per eligible share.
Supervisory Board extends contract with CSO Alexander Greschner
The Supervisory Board has extended the contract of Chief Sales Officer Alexander Greschner for a further five years. Mr. Greschner has held the position of CSO at the Wacker Neuson Group since 2017, also holding responsibility for aftermarket and marketing. The Supervisory Board looks forward to continuing this trusted and successful relationship with Mr. Greschner.
Key indicators for the Wacker Neuson Group
|
Key figures in € million |
2021 |
2020 |
Delta |
|
Revenue |
1,866.2 |
1,615.5 |
+16% |
|
EBIT |
193.0 |
75.5 |
+156% |
|
EBIT margin (as a %) |
10.3 |
4.7 |
+5.6 PP |
|
Total profit/loss for the period |
137.9 |
14.1 |
+878% |
|
Earnings per share in € |
1.99 |
0.20 |
+895% |
|
Free cash flow1 |
264.1 |
344.0 |
-23% |
