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Elis SA (FRA:7EL) (FY 2024) Earnings Call Highlights: Record Growth Amid Strategic Challenges

In This Article:

  • Revenue: EUR4.6 billion, up 6.1% year-on-year, with 5.2% organic growth.

  • EBITDA: EUR1.6 billion, up 9.2%, with a margin increase of 100 basis points to 35.2%.

  • EBIT: EUR733 million, up 7.3%, with a margin increase of 20 basis points to 16%.

  • Net Income: EUR338 million, up 29% year-on-year.

  • Free Cash Flow: EUR346 million, up 14% year-on-year.

  • Return on Capital Employed (ROCE): 14.5%, up 60 basis points.

  • Financial Leverage Ratio: Decreased by 0.2 times to 1.85 times.

  • Clean Room Revenue: EUR255 million, up 11% year-on-year.

  • Pest Control Revenue: EUR75 million, up 24% year-on-year.

  • France Revenue Growth: 3.3% organic growth, with an EBITDA margin of 41.8%.

  • Central Europe Revenue Growth: 12.3%, with an EBITDA margin improvement of 180 basis points to 32.3%.

  • UK and Ireland Revenue Growth: 4.3% organic growth, with an EBITDA margin improvement of 90 basis points to 31.6%.

  • Latin America Revenue Growth: 8.7% organic growth, with an EBITDA margin increase of 50 basis points to nearly 35%.

  • Southern Europe Revenue Growth: 5.4% organic growth, with an EBITDA margin up 130 basis points to 32.6%.

Release Date: March 06, 2025

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

Positive Points

  • Elis SA (FRA:7EL) achieved record financial performance in 2024, with a 6.1% revenue growth reaching nearly EUR4.6 billion.

  • EBITDA increased by 9.2% to EUR1.6 billion, with a margin improvement of 100 basis points to 35.2%.

  • The company reported a significant 29% increase in net income, reaching EUR338 million.

  • Free cash flow reached a record EUR346 million, showing a 14% improvement year-on-year.

  • Elis SA's return on capital employed reached a record level of 14.5%, with a 60 basis point improvement.

Negative Points

  • The hospitality sector underperformed due to the negative impact of the Paris Olympics on activity.

  • The EBITDA margin in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe declined by 120 basis points, despite remaining at a high level.

  • The company faced challenges in pricing negotiations, particularly in Denmark and with public healthcare customers.

  • Elis SA's stock price has not reflected its operational and financial performance, with valuation multiples significantly lower than in 2019.

  • The company anticipates a slight increase in costs, particularly in labor, with a projected 4% rise in wage expenses for 2025.

Q & A Highlights

Q: You announced a new capital allocation policy with a share buyback. If you don't achieve the targeted bolt-ons, would you increase buybacks or dividends to reach the target leverage? A: Yes, if we have fewer bolt-ons, we will have more funds to return to shareholders. We will decide between exceptional dividends or share buybacks based on market conditions. (Xavier Martire, CEO)