In This Article:
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Sales: EUR4.1 billion, stable compared to the prior year period.
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Operating Gross Profit: EUR1.0 billion, increased by 2% year-over-year.
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Operating EBITDA: EUR355 million, up 2.5% year-over-year.
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Operating EBITA: EUR264 million, stable compared to the prior year.
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Free Cash Flow: EUR163 million, compared to EUR175 million last year.
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Earnings Per Share (EPS): EUR0.93, down from EUR0.97 last year.
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Gross Profit Margin (Brenntag Specialties): 23.2%, increased by 90 basis points.
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Operating EBITA (Brenntag Specialties): EUR111 million, declined by 1%.
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Operating Gross Profit (Brenntag Essentials): EUR725 million, increased by 3%.
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Operating EBITA (Brenntag Essentials): EUR179 million, 3.7% below the prior year.
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Leverage Ratio: Net debt to operating EBITDA at 1.9 times.
Release Date: May 14, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
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Brenntag SE (BNTGF) reported stable sales of EUR4.1 billion for Q1 2025, consistent with the prior year period.
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Operating gross profit increased by 2% to EUR1.0 billion, indicating effective margin management despite pricing pressures.
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Operating EBITDA rose by 2.5% year-over-year to EUR355 million, showcasing positive operating leverage.
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The company generated a free cash flow of EUR163 million, demonstrating strong cash management.
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Cost containment measures are on track, contributing significantly to cost development and supporting targeted savings for 2025.
Negative Points
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The business environment remains challenging with economic uncertainty and geopolitical volatility impacting performance.
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Sequential performance did not meet initial expectations, with Q1 results affected by dampened business sentiment.
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Earnings per share decreased to EUR0.93 from EUR0.97 in the previous year, reflecting pressure on profitability.
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The US economy contracted by 0.3% in Q1 2025, posing a risk to future demand and economic stability.
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The unresolved global tariff discussions and unfavorable euro-US dollar FX rates are expected to impact earnings, with guidance now at the lower range of EUR1.1 billion to EUR1.3 billion.
Q & A Highlights
Q: What are the risks to Brenntag's updated EBITA guidance, and how does the euro-US dollar FX rate factor into this? A: Christian Kohlpaintner, CEO, stated that risks include worsening geopolitical situations and economic environments, which are beyond their control. The euro-US dollar FX rate is a significant factor, with the guidance assuming a rate of 1.05, but current rates are at 1.12, impacting earnings. The company plans to accelerate its cost containment program to mitigate these risks.