Organic sales growth, improvement in EBIT margin
Handle recently announced strong business development in 2023.
Accordingly, the Düsseldorf-based group's turnover grew organically by 4.2 per cent to 21.5 billion euros. In nominal terms, however, this represents a decline of 3.9 per cent compared to 2022.
The adjusted operating result (adjusted EBIT) rose by 10.2 per cent to around 2.6 billion euros in 2023. In the previous year, it was around 2.3 billion euros. With regard to earnings, Henkel points out in its press release that the effects of the persistently high prices for direct materials and Logistics continue to weigh on the company's profitability.
Continued measures to reduce costs and increase efficiency in production and Supply Chain and portfolio optimisation measures helped the Group to more than offset the above-mentioned effects.
Henkel is forecasting an adjusted return on sales (adjusted EBIT margin) of 11.9 percent. In 2022, the adjusted EBIT margin was 10.4 per cent.
Carsten Knobel, CEO of Henkel, said: „Despite a persistently challenging market environment, we consistently drove forward our growth strategy in 2023 and accelerated its implementation once again, increased our organic sales very strongly and significantly improved profitability.“ Henkel has thus exceeded the forecast it made at the beginning of the year.