HORNBACH Baumarkt AG: Unexpected reduction in earnings in third quarter of 2018/19 despite pleasing sales growth – Earnings forecast adjusted

HORNBACH Baumarkt AG Group:
Unexpected reduction in earnings in third quarter of 2018/19 despite pleasing sales growth – Earnings forecast adjusted

Bornheim bei Landau/Pfalz, December 10, 2018.

The HORNBACH Baumarkt AG Group witnessed an unexpected reduction in earnings in the third quarter of 2018/19. This resulted above all from an unsatisfactory earnings performance in November 2018. Based on initial, preliminary figures, Q3 operating earnings excluding non-operating items (adjusted EBIT) fell year-on-year by around 67% to just under EUR 4 million (2017/18: EUR 12.2 million).

Consolidated sales improved by 7.5% to EUR 1,006 million in Q3 2018/19, but gross profit rose less rapidly than sales. This was mainly due to higher procurement prices which, given competitive considerations, could not be offset by higher retail prices. The growth in gross profit was insufficient to offset the increase in store and administration expenses.

As a result, adjusted EBIT for the first nine months of 2018/19 fell by around 13% to approximately EUR 134 million (2017/18: EUR 153.6 million). The Board of Management deems it unlikely that this shortfall in earnings can be made up in the fourth quarter. It now rather expects adjusted operating earnings (adjusted EBIT) to fall more than 10% of the previous year’s figure.

The Board of Management is upholding its sales forecast 2018/19 without amendment. This provides for sales growth in a medium single-digit percentage range – following nine-month sales growth of 4.7% to EUR 3,256 million.
 

Details about the earnings performance of the HORNBACH Baumarkt AG Group will be published in the Quarterly Statement on December 20, 2018.