Metso Corporation's stock exchange release on February 16, 2024, at 09:00 a.m. EET
Metso revised its segment reporting as of September 30, 2023, by transitioning from three segments to two: Aggregates and Minerals. The Smelting business, previously reported under the Metals segment, was moved to the Minerals segment, and the Metals & Chemical Processing and Ferrous & Heat Transfer businesses from the Metals segment were transferred to discontinued operations. All income statement, order intake and order backlog figures presented in this report pertain to continuing operations, and the financial information for the comparison periods has been restated accordingly.
Figures in brackets refer to the corresponding period in 2022, unless otherwise stated.
Fourth quarter 2023 in brief
- Customers' decision-making slower year-on-year; sequentially stable market activity
- Orders received declined 14% to EUR 1,232 million (EUR 1,437 million), services orders increased 4%
- Sales EUR 1,342 million (EUR 1,356 million), services sales increased 8%
- Adjusted EBITA increased 7% to EUR 225 million, or 16.8% of sales (EUR 210 million, or 15.5%)
- Operating profit increased to EUR 200 million, or 14.9% of sales (EUR 183 million, or 13.5%)
- Cash flow from operations was EUR 216 million (EUR 212 million)
2023 in brief
- Orders received declined 7% to EUR 5,252 million (EUR 5,623 million)
- Sales grew 8% to EUR 5,390 million (EUR 4,970 million)
- Adjusted EBITA increased 24% to EUR 887 million, or 16.5% of sales (EUR 715 million, or 14.4%)
- Operating profit increased to EUR 805 million, or 14.9% of sales (EUR 490 million, or 9.9%)
- Earnings per share were EUR 0.66 (EUR 0.36) and for continuing operations EUR 0.65 (EUR 0.39)
- Cash flow from operations was EUR 550 million (EUR 322 million)
- The Board of Directors will propose a dividend of EUR 0.36 for 2023 (EUR 0.30), to be paid in two equal installments
President and CEO Pekka Vauramo:
Our performance remained strong in the fourth quarter, despite sales declining slightly year-on-year within a mixed market environment. We improved our adjusted EBITA by 7% to EUR 225 million and adjusted EBITA margin to 16.8%, compared to 15.5% in the last quarter of 2022. This demonstrates our unwavering dedication to improving our profitability and to reaching our updated profitability goal of over 17% adjusted EBITA margin.
Demand in the mining market remained stable during the latter part of the year. Steady customer production levels contributed to the favorable increase in services orders within the Minerals segment. Whilst Minerals equipment orders for the quarter declined, as a result of a tough year-on-year comparison, we continue to see a healthy order proposal pipeline. As anticipated, the aggregates market continued to be weaker compared to the previous year. This was evident in the lower order intake in the fourth quarter, although there was a sequential increase due to seasonal demand.
Quarterly sales increased in Minerals, but the decline in Aggregates sales, in addition to a negative currency impact, resulted in the Group's sales being 1% lower year-on-year. The profitability of Minerals improved, and the profitability of Aggregates was at the comparison period's level, despite the decline in sales. Overall, our profitability development reflects improved gross margins through cost management, as well as other actions implemented to strengthen our resilience to market fluctuations.
For the full year, orders received decreased slightly, mainly due to the weaker Aggregates market. Sales increased by 8%, and adjusted EBITA increased by 24% to EUR 887 million, or 16.5% of revenue. Our cash flow from operations also improved towards the end of the year, reaching EUR 550 million compared to EUR 322 million in 2022. Overall, we can be very satisfied with our performance, and I would like to express my gratitude to the whole Metso personnel for their strong contribution during 2023.
We made significant strides in our strategic focus areas, with sales of our Planet Positive products growing by 18% year-on-year to EUR 1,447 million, accounting for 27% of our total sales. The demand for Planet Positive products remains robust, and new Planet Positive orders include battery minerals processing plants, such as a lithium hydroxide refinery, and a full-scope sustainable comminution flow sheet concept. During the year, we also introduced several new Planet Positive products, to e.g., battery minerals processes, recycling, and process optimization and availability.
Throughout 2023, we continued to refine our business portfolio: we announced a plan to divest two businesses that were previously part of our Metals segment. These businesses have been reported as discontinued businesses since the third quarter, and the divestment process is ongoing. Additionally, we pursued inorganic growth opportunities and made three small acquisitions last year. In 2024, we will continue to seek further opportunities to strengthen our market position and expand our sustainable and digital offerings. We also remain committed to annual productivity improvements and cost control.
We expect that the ongoing demand for infrastructure and minerals, driven by the global energy transformation, will sustain our end markets. However, customer decision-making may be influenced by economic and geopolitical developments. We are confident that our strong position will enable us to continue providing excellent service to our customers and creating value for all our stakeholders in 2024.
Market outlook
According to the company's disclosure policy, Metso's market outlook describes the expected sequential development of market activity during the following six-month period using three categories: improve, remain at the current level, or decline.
Metso expects that the market activity in Minerals will remain at the current level, while the activity in Aggregates is expected to improve.
In its previously published outlook, Metso expected the overall market activity to remain at the current level in both Minerals and Aggregates.
Key figures
| EUR million | Q4/2023 | Q4/2022 | Change % | 2023 | 2022 | Change % |
| Orders received | 1,232 | 1,437 | -14 | 5,252 | 5,623 | -7 |
| Orders received by services business | 681 | 656 | 4 | 2,955 | 2,833 | 4 |
| % of orders received | 55 | 46 | - | 56 | 50 | - |
| Order backlog | 2,951 | 3,303 | -11 | |||
| Sales | 1,342 | 1,356 | -1 | 5,390 | 4,970 | 8 |
| Sales by services business | 758 | 703 | 8 | 2,891 | 2,558 | 13 |
| % of sales | 57 | 52 | - | 54 | 51 | - |
| Adjusted EBITA | 225 | 210 | 7 | 887 | 715 | 24 |
| % of sales | 16.8 | 15.5 | - | 16.5 | 14.4 | - |
| Operating profit* | 200 | 183 | 9 | 805 | 490 | 64 |
| % of sales | 14.9 | 13.5 | - | 14.9 | 9.9 | - |
| Earnings per share, continuing operations, EUR* | 0.16 | 0.15 | 7 | 0.65 | 0.39 | 67 |
| Cash flow from operations | 216 | 212 | 2 | 550 | 322 | 71 |
| Gearing, % | 33.8 | 29.1 | - | |||
| Personnel at end of period | 17,134 | 16,705 | 3 |
*Full-year 2022 includes a EUR 150 million non-recurring charge related to the wind-down of business in Russia.
Audiocast and conference call details
President and CEO Pekka Vauramo and CFO Eeva Sipilä will present the results in an audiocast and a conference call for analysts and investors today at 1:00 p.m. EET.
The audiocast can be followedat the company's website.A recording and a transcript will be available at the same webpage after the event has finished.
The teleconference can be accessed by registering on the link below.
https://palvelu.flik.fi/teleconference/?id=10012428
Further information, please contact:
Juha Rouhiainen, Vice President, Investor Relations, Metso Corporation,
tel. +358 20 484 3253,
email: juha.rouhiainen(a)metso.com
Distribution:
Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
Main media
www.metso.com
Metso is a frontrunner in sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. We improve our customers’ energy and water efficiency, increase their productivity, and reduce environmental risks with our product and process expertise. We are the partner for positive change.
Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, Metso employs over 17,000 people in close to 50 countries and sales for 2023 were about EUR 5.4 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki. metso.com, x.com/metsoofficial
