Covestro AG: Preliminary EBITDA of EUR 456 million in Q3 2020 above market expectation; FY 2020 outlook updated
October 09, 2020 at 07:45 am EDT
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DGAP-Ad-hoc: Covestro AG / Key word(s): Preliminary Results/Change in Forecast
Covestro AG: Preliminary EBITDA of EUR 456 million in Q3 2020 above market expectation; FY 2020 outlook updated
09-Oct-2020 / 13:45 CET/CEST
Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
In the course of preparing the Q3 2020 interim statement for Covestro Group, preliminary Q3 key financial data deviate from capital market expectations, based on the average values of latest consensus estimates of financial analysts, published by Vara Research on October 7, 2020.
Therefore, Covestro provides already today the following preliminary key financial data from the Q3 2020 interim statement:
Preliminary EBITDA amounts to EUR 456 million. Consensus expects this number to be EUR 373 million. The difference is mainly driven by higher cost containments as well as a stronger volume growth and a better margin development.
Preliminary EBITDA for the Polyurethanes segment amounts to EUR 220 million, for the Polycarbonates segment to EUR 148 million and for the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment to EUR 99 million.
Preliminary core volume growth compared to prior year amounts to +3.0%. The recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic has developed more dynamically than so far anticipated.
Preliminary sales amount to EUR 2,760 million. Consensus expects this number to be EUR 2,847 million.
Preliminary effects on sales amount to +0.9% by volume, -9,0% by price, -3.3% by exchange rates and -1.4% by portfolio.
Preliminary sales for the Polyurethanes segment amount to EUR 1,315 million, for the Polycarbonates segment to EUR 801 million and for the Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties segment to EUR 495 million.
The Q3 2020 interim statement will be published on October 27, 2020.
As a consequence of the better than expected Q3 2020 results and a better than expected operational start into Q4 2020 Covestro adjusts its guidance for full year 2020 as follows:
EBITDA is expected at around EUR 1.2 billion. The previous guidance projected an EBITDA between EUR 700 million and EUR 1,200 million. The adjustment of the guidance is primarily due to higher cost containments, a stronger volume growth and a better margin development for the full year. Consensus expects this number to be EUR 1,005 million.
Core volume growth is expected - unchanged - to be below previous year (in 2019: +2.0%).
Free operating cash flow (FOCF) is expected between EUR 0 million and EUR 300 million. The previous forecast projected FOCF between EUR -200 million and EUR 300 million. The adjustment of the guidance is mainly the result of an increased forecast for EBITDA as well as partly compensating effects from working capital. Consensus expects this number to be EUR 185 million.
Return on capital employed (ROCE) is expected in the mid-single-digit percent range. The previous forecast projected ROCE between -1% and 4%. The adjustment of the guidance is mainly the result of the increased forecast for EBITDA.
The 2020 annual report will be published on February 23, 2021. Forward-looking statements
This ad-hoc statement may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro's public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
Contact for investors:
Ronald Köhler, Head of Investor Relations
Phone: +49 214 6009 5098
E-mail: ronald.koehler@covestro.com
Contact for media:
Lars Boelke, Global Corporate Media Relations
Phone: +49 214 6009 4206
E-mail: lars.boelke@covestro.com
09-Oct-2020 CET/CEST The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de
Language:
English
Company:
Covestro AG
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee 60
51373 Leverkusen
Germany
Phone:
+49 (0) 214 60095098
Fax:
+49 (0) 214 60097002
E-mail:
ronald.koehler@covestro.com
Internet:
www.covestro.com
ISIN:
DE0006062144
WKN:
606214
Indices:
DAX
Listed:
Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange
Covestro AG is one of the world's leading manufacturers of polymer materials. Its products are primarily used in the automotive, construction, electronics, furniture and textile industries. Net sales break down by family of products as follows:
- specialty products (50.5%): raw materials for coatings, adhesives and films;
- performance materials (47.8%): polyurethanes (flexible polyurethane foam mainly used in furniture, mattress and car seat upholstery, and rigid polyurethane foam used in the composition of building and refrigeration equipment insulation) and polycarbonates (high-performance polycarbonates used in automotive components, roof structures and medical devices);
- other (16.3%).
At the end of 2023, the group operated 48 production sites around the world.
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: Germany (12.1%), the United States (21.8%), China (21.4%) and other (44.7%).