PRESS RELEASE

from LAFARGEHOLCIM LTD (EPA:LHN)

Record profitable growth in H1

Holcim Group Services Ltd / Key word(s): Half Year Results
Record profitable growth in H1

26-Jul-2024 / 06:30 CET/CEST
Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.


  • Record recurring EBIT, up +12.7% in local currency, up +8.1% in CHF
    Net sales up +1.6% in local currency 
  • Record recurring EBIT margin of 23.2% (+210 bps) in Q2 2024
  • +10.0% growth in EPS before impairment and divestments
  • Disciplined M&A execution continues with 11 value-accretive acquisitions and 4 divestments
  • FY 2024 updated guidance: recurring EBIT margin increased to above 18.5% with low single-digit net sales growth in local currency

 

Miljan Gutovic, CEO: “I thank all members of the Holcim family for delivering record profitability in the first half of 2024. With our deeply embedded performance culture, our teams focused on successfully meeting our customers’ needs. Our leading sustainable building solutions, from ECOPact low-carbon concrete, to Elevate energy-efficient roofing systems, position us as the partner of choice for large-scale projects like infrastructure and data centers.

“We delivered broad-based profitable growth in H1, achieving a superior earnings profile with a record recurring EBIT margin of 23.2% in Q2, and are well on course to deliver free cash flow of above CHF 3 billion in 2024. With our track record of creating superior value across all market conditions and economic cycles, we are committed to another year of record results, capitalizing on our markets’ strong fundamentals.

“Our disciplined M&A execution continued with 11 value-accretive acquisitions to accelerate circular construction and scale up our ECOCycle® technology, while expanding Solutions & Products and strengthening our aggregates and ready-mix businesses. Advancing climate action, we reduced CO2  per net sales by 7%1.”

 

Performance overview H1

Group H1

 2024 

 2023 

±%

±%
LC growth

±%

organic growth

Net sales (CHFm)

 12,813 

 13,067 

 -1.9

 +1.6

 -0.3 

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

 2,210 

 2,043 

 +8.1

 +12.7

 +12.3 

Recurring EBIT margin (%)

 17.2 

 15.6 

 

 

 

Operating profit (CHFm)

 2,036 

 1,970 

 +3.3

 

 

Net income, Group share (CHFm)

 1,218 

 1,261 

 -3.4

 

 

Net income before impairment and divestments, Group share (CHFm)

 1,376 

 1,280 

 +7.5

 

 

EPS (CHF)

2.16

2.19

 -1.2

 

 

EPS before impairment and divestments (CHF)

2.44

2.22

 +10.0

 

 

Free Cash Flow after leases (CHFm)

48

79

 -39.1

 

 

Net financial debt (CHFm)

 10,862 

 11,067 

 -1.8

 

 

Profitable growth continues

Net sales of CHF 12,813 million in H1 2024 were up +1.6% on a local currency basis compared to the prior year.

Recurring EBIT for H1 2024 grew over-proportionally compared to net sales to a record CHF 2,210 million, with a rise of 12.7% in local currency versus the prior-year period. Profitability increased sharply in Q2 2024 with a record recurring EBIT margin of 23.2%, reflecting our strategic focus on high-value solutions. Consequently, Holcim is well on track to again deliver industry-leading margins for the full year.

Holcim’s earnings per share before impairment and divestments in H1 2024 were CHF 2.44, 10% higher than the prior-year period.

Free cash flow after leases was CHF 48 million in H1 2024, compared to CHF 79 million in H1 2023, on track to achieve full-year 2024 guidance of above CHF 3 billion.

Investing in the most attractive markets

Holcim is continuing to invest in profitable growth with 11 value-accretive acquisitions, predominantly family-owned businesses bringing significant synergy upside.

There were four highly-accretive acquisitions in Europe to accelerate circular construction - in Belgium, Switzerland, the UK and Germany - scaling up Holcim’s ECOCycle® recycling technology; three acquisitions in Europe and Latin America to expand Solutions & Products; and bolt-on acquisitions in North America, Latin America and Europe to strengthen aggregates and ready-mix. Holcim also closed four divestments in H1.

 

Leading in sustainability

Customer demand for Holcim’s sustainable building solutions increased. In H1, net sales of Holcim’s low-carbon ECOPact concrete and low-carbon ECOPlanet cement accounted for 28% and 26% of ready-mix net sales and cement net sales, respectively, up significantly from 19% in each case at end-December 2023.

Advancing climate action, Holcim reduced CO2 per net sales by 7% compared to the prior-year period. In Q2, Holcim broke ground with its partners on two large-scale carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects, in Germany and Belgium.

Outlook and guidance

Holcim’s strategy continues to deliver superior performance. Building on its record Q2 recurring EBIT margin, Holcim updates its full-year guidance for 2024, with:

  • Low single-digit net sales growth in local currency
  • Over-proportional growth in recurring EBIT
  • Increase in recurring EBIT margin to above 18.5%
  • Free cash flow of above CHF 3 billion
  • 20% growth in recycled Construction Demolition Materials to 10 million tons
  • Progress towards U.S. listing of North American business

 

The planned listing of Holcim’s North American business in the U.S. is on track to be completed in the first half of 2025, with the aim of unlocking a new era of value creation for all stakeholders.

 

Holcim launched its previously announced share buyback on 18 March 2024 to purchase up to
CHF 1 billion until year-end. By 30 June 2024, 5.2 million shares had been repurchased for CHF 413 million. Holcim remains committed to a strong investment grade credit rating.

 

Key Group figures

Group Q2

 2024 

 2023 

±%

±%
LC growth

±%

organic growth

Net sales (CHFm)

 7,227 

 7,342 

 -1.6

 +0.2

 -0.6 

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

 1,678 

 1,550 

 +8.2

 +11.4

 +11.0 

Recurring EBIT margin (%)

 23.2 

 21.1 

 

 

 

 

Group H1

 2024 

 2023 

±%

±%
LC growth

±%

organic growth

Net sales (CHFm)

 12,813 

 13,067 

 -1.9

 +1.6

 -0.3 

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

 2,210 

 2,043 

 +8.1

 +12.7

 +12.3 

Recurring EBIT margin (%)

 17.2 

 15.6 

 

 

 

Operating profit (CHFm)

 2,036 

 1,970 

 +3.3

 

 

Net income, Group share (CHFm)

 1,218 

 1,261 

 -3.4

 

 

Net income before impairment and divestments, Group share (CHFm)

 1,376 

 1,280 

 +7.5

 

 

EPS (CHF)

2.16

2.19

 -1.2

 

 

EPS before impairment and divestments (CHF)

2.44

2.22

 +10.0

 

 

Free Cash Flow after leases (CHFm)

48

79

 -39.1

 

 

Net financial debt (CHFm)

 10,862 

 11,067 

 -1.8

 

 

 

Group Results by Product Line H1

 2024 

 2023 

±%

±%
LC growth

±%

organic growth

Net sales of Cement (CHFm)

 6,425 

 6,794 

 -5.4

 -1.0

 -0.3 

Recurring EBIT of Cement (CHFm)

 1,593 

 1,472 

 +8.2

 +13.3

 +13.5 

Recurring EBIT margin of Cement (%)

 24.8 

 21.7 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales of Aggregates (CHFm)

 2,028 

 2,116 

 -4.2

 -1.8

 -3.1 

Recurring EBIT of Aggregates (CHFm)

 277 

 265 

 +4.6

 +7.9

 +7.5 

Recurring EBIT margin of Aggregates (%)

 13.7 

 12.5 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales of Ready-Mix Concrete (CHFm)

 2,757 

 2,896 

 -4.8

 -2.5

-4.9

Recurring EBIT of Ready-Mix Concrete (CHFm)

 73 

 91 

 -19.7

 -18.2

-25.7

Recurring EBIT margin of Ready-Mix Concrete (%)

 2.7 

 3.2 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales of Solutions & Products (CHFm)

 2,878 

 2,601 

 +10.6

 +13.3

+5.4

Recurring EBIT of Solutions & Products (CHFm)

 267 

 215 

 +23.9

 +28.1

+26.7

Recurring EBIT margin of Solutions & Products (%)

 9.3 

 8.3 

 

 

 

 

 

Segment performance

North America

North America reached a new level of profitability, with an increase in H1 recurring EBIT margin of 240 basis points to 19.4%. There are strong market fundamentals in place, with Holcim having secured more than 100 infrastructure projects between 2023 and 2026. Strong performance is expected in 2024.

North America Q2

 2024 

 2023 

±%

±%
LC growth

±%

organic growth

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

 1,780 

 1,841 

 -3.3

 -2.5

 -2.5 

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

 541 

 492 

 +10.0

 +12.8

 +12.8 

Recurring EBIT margin (%)

 29.7 

 26.2 

 

 

 

 

North America H1

 2024 

 2023 

±%

±%
LC growth

±%

organic growth

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

 2,913 

 3,044 

 -4.3

 -1.6

 -1.8 

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

 576 

 527 

 +9.2

 +12.2

 +12.6 

Recurring EBIT margin (%)

 19.4 

 17.0 

 

 

 

 

Latin America

Latin America delivered its 16th consecutive quarter of profitable growth, with an outstanding H1 recurring EBIT margin of 35.6%. The region benefited from its leading Disensa retail distribution network with more than 2,000 stores. Nearshoring trends across the region are driving infrastructure and commercial investments.

Latin America Q2

 2024 

 2023 

±%

±%
LC growth

±%

organic growth

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

 756 

 717 

 +5.4

 +2.6

 +2.6 

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

 267 

 245 

 +8.8

 +5.9

 +5.9 

Recurring EBIT margin (%)

 35.2 

 33.7 

 

 

 

 

Latin America H1

 2024 

 2023 

±%

±%
LC growth

±%

organic growth

Net sales to external customers (CHFm)

 1,447 

 1,403 

 +3.1

 +0.7

 +0.7 

Recurring EBIT (CHFm)

 519 

 488 

 +6.3

 +5.1

 +5.1 

Recurring EBIT margin (%)

 35.6 

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