HEIDELBERG has made a positive start to financial year 2025/26. Thanks to the healthy order backlog from the previous year, sales in the first quarter were well up on the previous year’s figure at € 466m (corresponding quarter of previous year: €403m).
Business in Europe and Asia developed particularly positively during this period. In the case of Asia, this demonstrates that Heidelberg is further strengthening its position in such future markets.
The adjusted operating result (EBITDA) also improved significantly, to €20m (corresponding quarter of previous year: € –9m). The adjusted EBITDA margin, which did not include any special items during the reporting period, rose accordingly to 4.4% after three months (equivalent quarter of previous year: –2.3%).
Besides the growing sales volume and improved production capacity utilisation, the cost-cutting measures introduced by the company also had an impact in this regard. Systematically implementing both the plan for the future and efficiency improvements is having a positive effect on profitability in the current financial year. A full year after drupa, incoming orders of € 559m in the first quarter (previous year’s figure: €701m) continued to create a solid basis for positive business development, with the company’s successful participation in the China Print trade show also playing a role.
“Thanks to our global market position and an improved cost basis, we have made a good start to the new financial year,” said Jürgen Otto, CEO. “Strategic measures in our core business, together with new options in the Technology segment and our move into the defence sector, give us cause to feel very confident about the prospects for the year as a whole.”
Following a positive start, the forecast for financial year 2025/26 is confirmed. In view of macroeconomic developments, taking into account the various opportunities and risks, and assuming the global economy does not see weaker growth than predicted by the relevant institutions, the company is expecting sales of around €2,350m in financial year 2025/26 (2024/25: € 2,280m). The EBITDA margin adjusted for special items is predicted to rise to as much as 8% (previous year: 7.1%).
