By Adria Calatayud
Germany's Merck KGaA raised its full-year guidance, saying it expects the performance of its life-science and healthcare businesses to be better than previously anticipated.
The chemical-and-pharmaceutical group on Wednesday forecast net sales to range from 20.4 billion to 21.4 billion euros ($23.95 billion to $25.13 billion) this year, up from its previous expectations of 20 billion to 21.1 billion euros. Merck expects organic sales growth of up to 3%.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization excluding one-time items--the company's preferred profit metric--is forecast at between 5.7 billion and 6.1 billion euros, Merck said. This compares with a previous outlook of 5.5 billion to 6 billion euros.
The company attributed the guidance change to expectations of stronger momentum in its life-sciences unit and resilience in its healthcare division amid challenges, as well as market conditions and its first-quarter performance.
For the first quarter, Merck posted an after-tax profit of 669 million euros, down 9.4% on year.
Sales were 5.13 billion euros, up 2.9% organically, and Ebitda before one-time items was broadly flat at 1.53 billion euros.
Analysts had forecast sales at 5.1 billion euros and Ebitda before one-time items at 1.46 billion euros, according to consensus estimates provided by the company.
Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayud@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
05-13-26 0147ET
