par LAFARGEHOLCIM LTD (EPA:LHN)
Strong start to the year – guidance upgraded
Holcim Group Services Ltd / Key word(s): Quarter Results
Strong start to the year – guidance upgraded
21-Apr-2023 / 06:30 CET/CEST
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
- Net sales of CHF 5,725m, organic growth of +8.0%
- Recurring EBIT of CHF 493m, over-proportional organic growth of +12.0%
- 12 value accretive acquisitions; 5 in Solutions & Products, 7 in Aggregates & Ready-Mix
- Accelerating climate action; Holcim’s 2nd Climate Report with upgraded targets
- Guidance 2023 upgraded, organic net sales growth of above 6% and organic Recurring EBIT growth of above 10%
Group Q1 (in million CHF)
2023
2022
±%
±% organic
Net sales
5,725
6,440
-11.1
8.0
Recurring EBIT
493
614
-19.7
12.0
Jan Jenisch, CEO: "I thank all members of the Holcim family for this strong start to the year. This quarter’s performance demonstrates the strength of our portfolio and regional footprint, delivering broad-based profitable growth, driven by high-value solutions, from ECOPact to ECOPlanet, supporting our customers in achieving their sustainability goals.
"In Q1 2023, net sales grew organically by 8% and Recurring EBIT by 12%. This profitable growth was led by strong performances across our building materials businesses. Our teams continued our fast-paced execution, with 12 value-accretive acquisitions, including Duro-Last, completing our range of flat roofing systems. With strong underlying trends across all our businesses, we are confident we will close the full year strong. We are upgrading our guidance accordingly to achieve organic net sales growth of above 6% and organic Recurring EBIT growth of above 10%, while delivering an industry-leading Recurring EBIT margin of above 16%.
"We accelerated climate action with upgraded 1.5°C targets, as shared in our second Climate Report while expanding our range of sustainable building solutions. We reached 16% of ready-mix net sales with ECOPact low-carbon concrete and expanded our ECOPlanet range with two calcined clay production facilities in France and Mexico, delivering low-carbon cement with up to 50% less CO2. Scaling up circular construction, we launched our ECOCycle® technology, recycling construction demolition materials into new building solutions, to exceed our 2025 target of 10 million tons."
Strong performance
The North America region delivered a strong start to the year in Cement, Aggregates and Ready-Mix Concrete, with strong market demand in both the USA and Canada. Roofing volumes were impacted by inventory normalization. Holcim’s roofing offer was further strengthened in the quarter with the closing of Duro-Last, alongside two other acquisitions in Aggregates. Order books are strong in all business segments.
The first quarter of 2023 in Latin America was the region’s eleventh consecutive quarter of profitable organic growth, with performance driven by Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. The company expanded the Solutions & Products business in roofing and waterproofing in Argentina and in Mexico. Holcim expects these strong results to continue with an excellent pipeline of infrastructure projects ahead.
In Europe, Holcim delivered strong results across the region, with margin expansion driven by high-value solutions. Holcim closed two acquisitions in Solutions & Products and five in Aggregates and Ready-Mix. The company expects strong results to continue.
The Asia Middle East & Africa region showed profitable organic growth with significant margin expansion. Performance was driven by Australia, Algeria and Egypt. Decarbonizing its operations, the region delivered a significant increase in alternative fuels. Order books for the region are good and the recovery in China is progressing.
Successful transformation
Holcim continued its successful transformation, with twelve value-accretive acquisitions, including the highly synergistic strategic Duro-Last acquisition. Four other acquisitions were added to the Solutions & Products business segment in the quarter covering roofing, waterproofing, retail and precast. Seven other acquisitions were added in Aggregates and Ready-Mix Concrete.
Leadership in sustainability
In line with Holcim’s commitment to lead its sector’s transition to net zero, the Board of Directors has submitted the company’s second Climate Report for an advisory vote, reflecting the company’s commitment to give its shareholders a say on the company’s climate-related matters. The Climate Report was published on 31 March 2023.
Accelerating climate action, Holcim reduced its CO2 per net sales by 21% in 2022 and will reduce it by over 10% in 2023. The 2023 Climate Report includes Holcim’s upgraded 2030 targets aligned with the 1.5°C framework and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Making progress in carbon capture utilization and storage, Holcim commits to invest a cumulative CHF 2 billion by 2030 in mature technologies to capture more than 5 million tons of CO2 per year. Driving circular construction across its business, Holcim launched its proprietary ECOCycle® circular technology platform in April to accelerate recycling of construction and demolition materials. The company is on track to exceed its target to recycle 10 million tons of construction and demolition materials by 2025.
Continuing its focus on sustainable construction, ECOPact low-carbon concrete represented 16% of Ready-Mix net sales in the first quarter, continuing to make progress towards its objective of reaching 25% by 2025. ECOPlanet low-carbon cement is now available in 27 markets, with the first calcined clay production in France and Mexico with up to 50% less CO2.
Outlook and Guidance
Holcim expects continued profitable growth and is upgrading its guidance, with:
- Organic net sales growth of above 6%
- Over-proportional organic growth in Recurring EBIT of above 10%
- Industry-leading Recurring EBIT margin of above 16%
- Free cash flow after leases of around CHF 3 billion
- Reduction of CO2 per net sales by over 10%
Group and regional figures
Group Q1
2023
2022
±%
±% organic
Net sales (CHFm)
5,725
6,440
-11.1
8.0
Recurring EBIT (CHFm)
493
614
-19.7
12.0
North America Q1
2023
2022
±%
±% organic
Net sales to external customers (CHFm)
1,742
1,651
5.5
0.2
Recurring EBIT (CHFm)
36
68
-47.0
-40.3
Latin America Q1
2023
2022
±%
±% organic
Net sales to external customers (CHFm)
726
682
6.4
25.0
Recurring EBIT (CHFm)
244
220
10.7
10.8
Europe Q1
2023
2022
±%
±% organic
Net sales to external customers (CHFm)
2,044
1,882
8.6
8.8
Recurring EBIT (CHFm)
118
74
58.7
61.7
Asia Middle East Africa Q1
2023
2022
±%
±% organic
Net sales to external customers (CHFm)
1,083
2,114
-48.8
8.3
Recurring EBIT (CHFm)
197
336
-41.4
16.2
– of which Asia Pacific
Net sales to external customers (CHFm)
587
1,514
-61.2
15.5
Recurring EBIT (CHFm)
99
249
-60.1
2.4
– of which Middle East Africa
Net sales to external customers (CHFm)
496
599
-17.3
1.6
Recurring EBIT (CHFm)
97
87
12.1
33.2
Reconciliation to Group accounts
Reconciling measures of profit and loss to the Holcim Group’s consolidated statement of income:
Group Q1 (in million CHF)
2023
2022
Recurring EBITDA
970
1,164
Depreciation of right-of-use assets
-86
-90
Recurring EBITDA after leases
884
1,074
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment, intangible and long-term assets
-391
-460
Recurring EBIT
493
614
Additional information
Alternative Performance definitions
Some Alternative Performance measures are used in this release to help describe the performance of Holcim. A full set of these Alternative Performance definitions can be found on our website.
Analyst presentation
The analyst presentation of the Q1 2023 Trading Update is available on www.holcim.com.
Media conference: 09:00 CEST Analyst conference: 10:00 CEST
Switzerland: +41 (0) 58 310 50 00
France: +33 (0) 1 7091 8706
Germany: +49 (0) 69 505 0 0082
United Kingdom: +44 (0) 207 107 06 13
United States: +1 (1) 631 570 56 13
The media conference at 09:00 am CEST and analyst’s conference at 10:00 am CEST will be held by phone.
In order to participate in the analyst’s conference, please go to https://www.holcim.com/investors.
About Holcim
Holcim is a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions. Driven by its purpose to build progress for people and the planet, its 60,000 employees are on a mission to decarbonize building, while improving living standards for all. The company empowers its customers across all regions to build better with less, with its broad range of low-carbon and circular solutions, from ECOPact to ECOPlanet. With its innovative systems, from Elevate’s roofing to PRB’s insulation, Holcim makes buildings more sustainable in use, driving energy efficiency and green retrofitting. With sustainability at the core of its strategy, Holcim is becoming a net-zero company with 1.5°C targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Learn more about Holcim on www.holcim.com, and by following us on LinkedIn.
Sign up for Holcim's Building Progress newsletter here and follow our journey to a net-zero future.
Important disclaimer – forward-looking statements:
This document contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute forecasts regarding results or any other performance indicator, but rather trends or targets, as the case may be, including with respect to plans, initiatives, events, products, solutions and services, their development and potential. Although Holcim believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions as at the time of publishing this document, investors are cautioned that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Holcim, including but not limited to the risks described in the Holcim's annual report available on its website (www.holcim.com) and uncertainties related to the market conditions and the implementation of our plans. Accordingly, we caution you against relying on forward-looking statements. Holcim does not undertake to provide updates of these forward-looking statements.
End of Inside Information
1613421 21-Apr-2023 CET/CEST