Select Medical(SEM) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - EBITDA increased from €11.1 million in Q1 to €19.6 million in Q2, representing a 77% improvement [2] - Overall sales declined by 7%, leading to a 35% decrease in EBITDA and a margin drop from 13.7% to 9.6% year on year [3][4] - Earnings after taxes turned negative at €11.2 million, but the company maintains a solid financial footing with an equity ratio of 45.5% and cash reserves of approximately €113 million [4][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Semperit Industrial Applications saw a 4.7% decline in sales and a 19.2% decrease in EBITDA year on year, with margins at 18.1% [5] - Semperit Engineered Applications experienced a 9% drop in sales and a 46.9% decline in EBITDA compared to the previous year [7][8] - The hoses business showed signs of recovery with improved order intake, while the profiles segment continues to struggle due to a weak construction industry [6][9] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The overall order book and order intake for the first six months are higher than last year's comparable figures, indicating a recovery trend [3][24] - The construction industry is expected to turn around in 2026, but short-term benefits are not anticipated [25] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on optimizing costs and expanding its profile business in the U.S. market [25][26] - There is an ongoing effort to explore inorganic growth opportunities through potential acquisitions that can leverage existing business [28] - The company aims to maintain a resilient balance sheet while investing in digitalization projects [12][13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in a recovery in the second half of the year, driven by improved order intake and market dynamics [24][27] - The company confirmed its guidance for operating EBITDA in the range of €65 million to €85 million for 2025 [4][27] - Management acknowledged uncertainties but emphasized a positive momentum in customer restocking and order processing [24][27] Other Important Information - The company paid a dividend of $0.50 per share, totaling $10.3 million, signaling confidence in its business model [13][22] - Free cash flow was reported at €13.9 million, with capital expenditures halved to €18.5 million year on year [17][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Order dynamics in Q2 and summer months - Management noted a gradual increase in order intake starting in April, continuing through July, with a stronger order book compared to the previous year [31][32] Question: Revenue generation expectations for Q3 - Management is hopeful for a good Q3 and Q4, but noted potential impacts from weather and shipping activities [33] Question: CapEx reduction from €60 million to €50 million - The reduction is primarily a period shift related to specific growth projects, particularly in the U.S. railway systems [34] Question: Pricing dynamics and revenue increase - Pricing management has been proactive, with approximately €3 million of revenue attributed to price increases, though some businesses experienced price decreases [40][41] Question: Working capital development and operating cash flow - Management is confident in maintaining tight working capital targets and believes operating cash flow will cover the €50 million CapEx [42][44] Question: Impairment in the LSI business - Management provided assurance that the impairment was based on a comprehensive review and that there is remaining headroom for the Ricoh business [51][52] Question: Impact of Continental's spin-off on business - No concrete evidence of impact was reported, but management suggested it could be positive [56] Question: Current situation in the hoses business - The company is building up capacity and hiring to meet increased demand [60][61] Question: Margin quality of belting orders - Margin quality remains volatile, with improvements noted in the second quarter, but still lower than two to three years ago [67][70] Question: Impact of U.S. tariffs on business - The uncertainty from tariffs had a significant impact, but the current situation allows for better planning and has led to an uptick in order activity [76][78]