HEIDELBERG achieves significant improvement in profitability after nine months of FY 2025/26 – strategic realignment proceeding as planned - Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
HEIDELBERG, GERMANY 5 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -
(Información remitida por la empresa firmante)
HEIDELBERG achieves significant improvement in profitability after nine months of FY2025/26 – strategicrealignment proceeding as planned
Sales after nine months up on previous year, increasing by some 6.1percent
Adjusted EBITDA considerably better than in previous year– efficiency measures having a clear impact
Incoming orders down on previous year, as expected, due to underlying economic conditions and absence of drupa effect
Successful positioning in security, defense, and energy technologies
Full-year forecast confirmed despite challenging environment
February 5, 2026 (News Aktuell).- After nine months of financial year 2025/26 (April1 to December31, 2025), developments at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG (HEIDELBERG) are in line with expectations. The company has achieved a considerable improvement in its profitability and is also resolutely pressing ahead with its strategic transformation, moving into new areas of business that are enjoying strong growth. Notwithstanding the challenging environment, sales after three quarters climbed to €1,602million – some 6.1percent higher than the previous year’s figure of €1,509million – despite negative exchange rate effects amounting to around €44million compared with the equivalent period of the previous year. Business in Europe and with packaging and label printing presses saw particularly positive development during this period. At €617million, the sales figure for the third quarter was around 4percent higher than in the equivalent quarter of the previous year and continued the quarter-on-quarter sales growth so far in the current financial year.
The adjusted operating result (EBITDA) after nine months increased significantly to €114million (adjusted figure for equivalent period of previous year: €86million) and the adjusted EBITDA margin improved considerably to 7.1percent (equivalent period of previous year: 5.7percent). Implementation of the personnel and efficiency measures envisaged in the plan for the future is having a clear impact. For example, production costs and total working costs improved compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. The personnel cost ratio was lower than in the first nine months of the previous year, falling to 36percent (equivalent period of previous year, adjusted for special items: 39percent). The company is expecting personnel costs as a whole to remain below the previous year’s figure for the rest of financial year 2025/26.
Incoming orders after nine months totaled €1,628million (previous year: €1,823million). Allowing for the fact that drupa resulted in the previous year being very strong, they were therefore in line with expectations. During the reporting period, the company saw a significant impact from negative exchange rate effects amounting to some €46million. Incoming orders in the third quarter stood at €517million (corresponding quarter of previous year: €550million). The development of incoming orders in the third quarter was particularly positive in the Americas Region, where they were up 17percent on the equivalent quarter of the previous year.
HEIDELBERG pressing ahead with strategic transformation and tapping into new growth markets
Despite a market environment that remains challenging, HEIDELBERG is consistently pursuing its strategic transformation. Based on its strong industry and systems expertise, the company is systematically tapping into additional markets in the areas of defense, security, energy, charging infrastructure, and industrial system solutions. Onekey aspect of this process is combining all relevant activities under HDAdvancedTechnologies GmbH. This strategic further development is building HEIDELBERG a stronger future and opening up long-term growth opportunities.
In the HEIDELBERG Technology segment, sales after nine months totaled €42million – slightly higher than the previous year’s figure of €41million. Even though the development of sales is moderate at present, the strategic measures that have been initiated provide a basis for HEIDELBERG Technology to potentially make a much bigger contribution to business as a whole. In particular, the continuing strategy of tapping into new industries and the creation of new business models are raising expectations of a positive sales trend in the coming years.
“The measures we have initiated are confirmation of our growth plan,” says Jürgen Otto, CEO of Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. “Both strategically and operationally speaking, HEIDELBERG is extremely well positioned to actively hone this plan and leverage additional opportunities in dynamic future markets,” he adds.
Core business lays foundations for transformation
At the same time as new areas of business are being unlocked, the company’s core business is also developing robustly. In the Print & Packaging Equipmentsegment, HEIDELBERG is benefiting from its strong market position in packaging and label printing. In the reporting period, this segment’s sales increased to €804million (previous year’s figure: €705million). In the Digital Solutions & Lifecyclesegment, the company is further expanding its role as a systems integrator – with hybrid printing, software, and service solutions as part of a digital ecosystem. In this segment, HEIDELBERG achieved nine-month sales of €755million (previous year’s figure: €763million).
“Our strength lies in the intelligent way we combine presses, software, and service operations,” saysDr. David Schmedding, Chief Technology & Sales Officer. “By specifically expanding our digital printing portfolio and launching new high-performance systems such as the Jetfire75, we are creating additional growth potential– both in our core business and beyond,” he emphasizes.
The free cash flow of HEIDELBERG after three quarters was €-81million, an improvement on the previous year (equivalent period of previous year: €-97million). As expected, however, it was still negative. This is due to the Polar acquisition and restructuring costs in the high single-digit million-euro range. The netresult after taxes of €17million after nine months represented a significant increase (corresponding period of previous year: €-42million).
Full-year forecast confirmed despite challenging environment
The company is confirming its forecast for financial year 2025/26. A healthy order backlog, the current efficiency measures, and systematic implementation of the strategy are laying the foundations for achieving its targets. In view of macroeconomic developments, taking into account the various opportunities and risks, and assuming the global economy does not see weaker growth than predicted by the relevant institutions, the company is expecting sales of around €2,350million in financial year 2025/26 (2024/25: €2,280million). In view of the significant exchange rate effects, the continuing weak macroeconomic situation, and the uncertain trade situation, the company is assuming the increase in the adjusted EBITDA margin will be toward the lower end of the predicted range of up to 8percent (previous year: 7.1percent).
Further information:
Corporate Communications
Thomas Fichtl
Phone: +49 6222 82-67123
E-mail: [Thomas.Fichtl@heidelberg.com](mailto:Thomas.Fichtl@heidelberg.com)
Investor Relations
Sascha Donat
Phone: +49 6222 82-64201
E-mail: [Sascha.Donat@heidelberg.com](mailto:Sascha.Donat@heidelberg.com)