Brenntag SE (BNTGF) Q3 2024 Earnings Call Highlights: Strategic Initiatives and Market Challenges

In This Article:

  • Revenue: EUR4.1 billion, 1% increase year-over-year.

  • Operating Gross Profit: EUR1.02 billion, 3% increase year-over-year.

  • Operating EBITDA: EUR281 million, 5% decline year-over-year.

  • Free Cash Flow: EUR247 million, lower than the prior year.

  • Earnings Per Share (EPS): EUR0.82, down from EUR1.18 in Q3 2023.

  • Gross Profit Margin: 25% of sales, sequential expansion.

  • EBITA Conversion Ratio: 28%, down from 30% in the prior year.

  • Brenntag Specialties Operating Gross Profit: EUR301 million, 3% increase year-over-year.

  • Brenntag Essentials Operating Gross Profit: EUR718 million, 3% increase year-over-year.

  • Net Financial Liabilities: EUR2.7 billion at the end of Q3 2024.

  • Leverage Ratio: 1.8 times net debt to operating EBITDA.

  • Full Year EBITA Guidance: EUR1.1 billion to EUR1.2 billion.

Release Date: November 12, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Brenntag SE (BNTGF) reported a 3% increase in operating gross profit, reaching EUR1.02 billion for the third quarter of 2024.

  • The company confirmed its full-year EBITA guidance of EUR1.1 billion to EUR1.2 billion, indicating confidence in its cost takeout measures and strategic initiatives.

  • Brenntag SE (BNTGF) has made significant progress in its Horizon 2 strategy, focusing on optimizing its business portfolio and improving gross profit per unit.

  • The company successfully executed several acquisitions, including PIC and PharmaSpecial in Brazil, expanding its Life Science business in key markets.

  • Brenntag SE (BNTGF) launched CO2Xplorer, an innovative carbon emissions calculation tool, enhancing its sustainability leadership in the industry.

Negative Points

  • Operating EBITDA declined by 5% year-over-year to EUR281 million, reflecting ongoing challenges in the competitive market environment.

  • Earnings per share decreased to EUR0.82 from EUR1.18 in the third quarter of 2023, impacted by the sale of Raj Petro Specialties.

  • The company experienced a lower overall bottom line result due to higher volume-driven costs and inflationary impacts.

  • Brenntag SE (BNTGF) acknowledged that its Specialties division is not likely to close the performance gap with pure-play peers before 2027.

  • The company faced intense competition and pressure on industrial chemical selling prices, affecting its gross profit per unit.

Q & A Highlights

Q: You've confirmed the guidance for the year, which is EUR1.1 billion to EUR1.2 billion. Given the year-to-date profit, should the market expect the lower end of the range? Also, what has changed regarding the legal separation of Essentials and Specialties? A: We are confident in our guidance range due to our performance and cost measures. Regarding the separation, the focus is on performance improvement and cost management. The gap to pure-play peers is due to our current portfolio, which we are working to improve by 2027.