Burckhardt Compression continues to deliver strong growth and increased profitability

Core Insights - Burckhardt Compression achieved record financials in fiscal year 2024, surpassing CHF 1 billion in sales and CHF 100 million in net income for the first time, reflecting strong positioning in markets aligned with global megatrends [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Order intake for the Group reached CHF 1,151.2 million, a 2.4% increase, with sales up 12.6% to CHF 1,095.6 million, driven by an 18.2% growth in the Systems Division [2][5] - Gross profit margin improved to 28.0%, up 1.8 percentage points year-on-year, due to a favorable product mix and higher capacity utilization [2] - Consolidated operating income (EBIT) increased by 23.2% to CHF 140.8 million, with an overall Group EBIT margin rising to 12.9% from 11.7% [2][5] Profitability and Returns - Net income reached CHF 105.6 million, exceeding the previous year's figure by 25.0%, with earnings per share rising from CHF 24.98 to CHF 31.20 [3][4] - Return on Net Operating Assets (RONOA) increased from 28.3% to 32.6%, and total equity rose to CHF 340.2 million [4] Dividend Proposal - The Board of Directors proposed a dividend of CHF 18.00 per share, marking a 16.1% increase compared to the previous year, aligning with the Group's attractive dividend policy [4] Market Dynamics - The global Systems market normalized in 2024, with a decrease driven by policy shifts in the Hydrogen Mobility and Energy segment, while demand for Hyper Compressors remained high [5][7] - The Services Division experienced a 5.4% decline in order intake to CHF 325.8 million, influenced by local economic conditions and the closure of low-profit service centers in the US [8] Strategic Initiatives - Burckhardt Compression is implementing its Mid-Range Plan, focusing on strengthening core business, operational excellence, and enhancing business foundations, including a 40.0% reduction in greenhouse gas emission intensity [9][14] - New digital services were launched to optimize compressor fleet reliability and uptime, contributing to the company's transformation efforts [9] Leadership Changes - Upcoming changes in the Board of Directors include the proposal of Jacques Sanche as a new member and Chair, effective December 15, 2025, following Ton Büchner's planned succession [10][11] Guidance for Fiscal Year 2025 - The company expects fiscal year 2025 to maintain sales and EBIT margins at similar levels to fiscal year 2024, amid a dynamic operating environment characterized by uncertainties in global trade and currency exchange rates [12][13]