Investing.com -- Shares of KWS SAAT SE & Co KgaA (ETR:KWS) fell by 8% as the company reported a significant decline in its second-quarter earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), which dropped by 50% compared to the previous year.
The decrease in EBIT was primarily due to a weaker performance in the Beet segment. Additionally, the company’s sales for the quarter stood at €169 million, marking a 9% decline year-on-year (YoY), mainly driven by lower Sugarbeet sales.
The company’s EBITDA also experienced a downturn, with margins decreasing by 1,480 basis points YoY. The EBIT margin reduction was even more pronounced at 1,950 basis points YoY.
Despite the decline in profitability, KWS confirmed its full-year 2025 outlook, anticipating 2-4% organic growth and an adjusted EBIT margin between 14-16%, albeit slightly below the consensus of 16%. Research and development (R&D) intensity is expected to remain high, within the 18-19% range, aligning with Jefferies’ estimate of 19%.
Corporate EBIT was slightly down at -€40 million compared to -€39 million in the second quarter of the previous year, impacted by planned increases in R&D expenditures. On a positive note, the company’s financial health showed improvement, with free cash flow in the first half of the year reaching €95 million, a significant turnaround from the -€180 million reported in the first half of the previous year.
Net debt was also reduced to €343.5 million in the first half of 2025, down from €798.4 million in the same period last year, following the sale of the corn and sorghum business in South America.
Despite the confirmation of the FY25 outlook, Jefferies analysts have expressed a cautious view on the stock’s performance, stating, "We expect a muted/small negative share price response."
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.