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Henkel Continues Growth Momentum in Q3 2024
November 13, 2024 | HenkelEstimated reading time: 7 minutes
In the third quarter of 2024, Henkel increased Group sales to around 5.5 billion euros. This corresponds to strong organic growth of 3.3 percent, which was driven by good price development and an overall positive volume trend at Group level. In nominal terms, sales increased by 1.0 percent compared to the prior-year quarter.
”We continued to deliver in the third quarter while driving Henkel’s successful further development. Both business units contributed to this with further organic growth. Also in the third quarter, we achieved strong gross margins, which allowed us to continue the increased investments in our businesses and brands. The adjusted EBIT margin showed a correspondingly strong development. This demonstrates that we are on the right track with our growth agenda,” said Carsten Knobel, CEO of Henkel.
”We are convinced that fiscal 2024 will be another successful year for Henkel and that we will achieve our sales and earnings targets, which we raised in the course of the year. Hence, we have reiterated our outlook today. Backed by the strong performance year-to-date, we see a clear chance to reach the upper half of the respectiveearnings ranges for the Group – this applies both to the adjusted EBIT margin and to adjusted EPS growth.”
Henkel also made further progress in implementing its strategic growth agenda. In this context, Henkel is intensifying its commitment to sustainability. As part of this process, Henkel has developed a net-zero roadmap, which includes extended targets for reducing emissions across the entire value chain.
“We all have to take responsibility and help limit global warming to 1.5°C, as set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. Our roadmap, which has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, outlines what we are doing to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. In order to reach this goal, we will be implementing a wide range of measures across the entire value chain,” explained Carsten Knobel.
The Adhesive Technologies business unit achieved strong organic sales growth in the third quarter, supported by all business areas. The good organic sales growth in the Consumer Brands business unit was driven primarily by the global business area Hair.
Group sales performance
In the third quarter of 2024, Group sales increased nominally by 1.0 percent to 5,492 million euros. Effects from acquisitions/divestments increased sales by 1.2 percent. Foreign exchange effects had a negative impact of -3.6 percent on sales performance. Organically (i.e. adjusted for foreign exchange and acquisitions/divestments), sales increased by 3.3 percent. This growth was driven by both a good price development and an overall positive volume development at Group level.
In the first nine months of 2024, sales totaled 16,305 million euros. This is equivalent to a nominal decrease of -0.4 percent. Organically, Henkel achieved strong sales growth of 3.0 percent, driven by both price and volume developments.
Organic sales growth in the third quarter was driven by the Europe, IMEA, Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions. The North America region recorded a negative organic sales development in both business units.
Also in the first nine months of 2024, Henkel’s strong organic sales growth was driven by all regions with the exception of North America.
Sales performance Adhesive Technologies
The Adhesive Technologies business unit achieved sales of 2,800 million euros in the third quarter of 2024. This represents a nominal increase of 3.3 percent compared to the prior-year quarter (previous year: 2,711 million euros). Organically (i.e. adjusted for foreign exchange and acquisitions/divestments), sales increased by 3.7 percent. This growth was driven by strong volume development, while prices remained stable compared to the prior-year quarter. Foreign exchange effects reduced sales by -3.3 percent. Acquisitions/divestments had a positive impact of 2.8 percent.
In the first nine months of 2024, the Adhesive Technologies business unit posted nominal sales growth of 1.1 percent to 8,275 million euros. Organically, Adhesive Technologies achieved good sales growth of 2.5 percent, primarily driven by volume.
The strong organic sales growth of the Adhesive Technologies business unit in the third quarter was driven by all three business areas. The Mobility & Electronics business area achieved a strong organic sales increase of 3.9 percent. This development was driven by double-digit growth in the Electronics business and very strong growth in the Industrial business. Sales in the Automotive business declined overall due to a slowdown in market demand. The Packaging & Consumer Goods business area posted good organic sales growth of 2.7 percent, with the Packaging business achieving strong organic sales growth driven by an improvement in demand. The Consumer Goods business posted positive organic sales growth. The Craftsmen, Construction & Professional business area achieved organic sales growth of 4.5 percent. The General Manufacturing & Maintenance and Consumers & Craftsmen businesses contributed to this with very strong sales increases in both cases. The Construction business posted good growth.
From a regional perspective, the Adhesive Technologies business unit achieved positive organic sales growth in Europe in the third quarter, supported by all three business areas. In contrast, the North America region recorded a slightly negative organic sales growth, which was due to developments in the Mobility & Electronics and Packaging & Consumer Goods business areas. In the IMEA region, the business unit achieved double-digit organic sales growth, with all business areas contributing. The Latin America region posted significant organic sales growth, primarily driven by the Mobility & Electronics and Craftsmen, Construction & Professional business areas. The Asia-Pacific region showed very strong organic sales growth to which all three business areas contributed, with business developments in China having a particularly positive effect.
Sales performance Consumer Brands
In the Consumer Brands business unit, sales in the third quarter of 2024 totaled 2,653 million euros, representing a nominal decrease of -1.6 percent versus the prior-year quarter. Organically – i.e. adjusted for foreign exchange effects and acquisitions/divestments – the business unit achieved a good sales increase of 2.7 percent, driven by a continued very strong pricing component. Volume development was negatively impacted by the ongoing portfolio optimization measures. Foreign exchange effects reduced sales by -3.9 percent. Acquisitions/divestments decreased sales by a further -0.4 percent.
In the first nine months of 2024, Consumer Brands sales amounted to 7,919 million euros, a nominal decrease of -1.8 percent compared to the prior-year quarter. Organically, sales increased by 3.7 percent, driven by pricing.
The Laundry & Home Care business area achieved positive organic sales growth of 0.9 percent in the third quarter. The Laundry Care business experienced a slightly negative organic sales development, mainly due to portfolio optimization measures. In contrast, the Home Care business achieved significant organic sales growth, primarily fueled by a double-digit increase in sales in the Dishwashing category and very strong sales growth in the Toilet Care category.
The Hair business area posted a very strong organic sales increase of 6.8 percent, with the Consumer business posting a significant increase in sales, primarily driven by double-digit growth in the Hair Styling category. The Professional business achieved very strong organic sales growth.
The Other Consumer Businesses business area recorded good organic sales growth of 2.0 percent, in particular driven by very strong growth in Europe.
From a regional perspective, the third quarter saw the Consumer Brands business unit achieve positive organic sales growth in the Europe region. The Hair business area posted a strong sales increase, while the Laundry & Home Care business area experienced a slightly negative development. The North America region recorded an overall organic sales decline, primarily due to portfolio measures in the Laundry & Home Care business area. In contrast, the Hair business area in North America achieved very strong growth. The Latin America region recorded good organic sales growth, driven by the Hair business area. The IMEA region achieved double-digit organic sales increases across all business areas. The Asia-Pacific region posted very strong organic sales growth, with contributions from both the Hair and Laundry & Home Care business areas.
Net assets and financial position of the Group
No substantial changes to the net assets and financial position of the Group occurred in the period under review compared to the situation as at June 30, 2024.
Outlook for the Henkel Group
For fiscal 2024, Henkel expects organic sales growth of 2.5 to 4.5 percent for the Group. For Adhesive Technologies, organic sales growth is expected in the range of 2.0 to 4.0 percent. For Consumer Brands, the company anticipates an organic sales increase of 3.0 to 5.0 percent.
Adjusted return on sales (adjusted EBIT margin) is expected to be in the range of 13.5 to 14.5 percent. Adjusted return on sales is anticipated to be in the range of 16.0 to 17.0 percent for Adhesive Technologies and 13.0 to 14.0 percent for Consumer Brands.
For adjusted earnings per preferred share (EPS), Henkel expects an increase in the range of +20.0 to +30.0 percent at constant exchange rates.
Furthermore, we have the following expectations for 2024:
- Acquisitions/divestments: neutral impact on nominal sales growth
- Translation of sales in foreign currencies: negative impact in the low to mid-single-digit percentage range
- Prices for direct materials: flat development compared to the previous year’s average
- Restructuring expenses of 250 to 300 million euros
- Cash outflows from investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets of between 650 and 750 million euros
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