Release Date: March 11, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Henkel AG & Co KGaA (HELKF, Financial) delivered strong top and bottom line performance in 2024, with organic sales growth of 2.6%.
- The company achieved the highest gross margin in over 30 years at 50.6%, with significant improvements in both Consumer Brands and Adhesive Technologies.
- Henkel successfully concluded its portfolio optimization measures ahead of schedule, achieving targeted savings of EUR 525 million by the end of 2024.
- The company reported a strong free cash flow of EUR 2.4 billion and a 25% increase in adjusted EPS, leading to a proposed 10% dividend increase and a new share buyback plan.
- Henkel's Consumer Brands business saw strong growth, particularly in hair care, and the company is confident in further top and bottom line growth for 2025 despite a challenging environment.
Negative Points
- Henkel's North American market faced challenges, with both business units experiencing a year-on-year decline due to a challenging industrial market environment.
- The company anticipates a slower start to 2025, with subdued market growth in Q1 and high prior year comparables impacting performance.
- Henkel's Adhesive Technologies business experienced a softer Q4, particularly in the automotive segment, impacting overall performance.
- The company faces ongoing volatility and uncertainty in the macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, which could impact future performance.
- Henkel's Consumer Brands business is dealing with nonrecurring operational challenges related to supply chain optimization, affecting Q1 2025 performance.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Can you elaborate on the first quarter guidance and the impact of one-off disruptions and promotional activities? Are there any delistings due to pricing strategies?
A: The slower start in Consumer Brands is due to high comparables from early 2024 innovations, a softer market, particularly in the US, and nonrecurring one-offs related to the 1-1-1 approach. There are no delistings due to pricing strategies, but some destocking by retailers has impacted volumes. We expect an acceleration in H2, supporting our 1% to 3% growth guidance for 2025. – Carsten Knobel, CEO
Q: What caused the sequential growth decline in Adhesives in Q4, and what are the expectations for 2025?
A: The decline was mainly due to a softening in the industrial markets, particularly automotive, and a downgrade in the IPX index. However, electronics performed well, and we expect 2% to 4% growth in 2025, with stronger performance in H2. – Carsten Knobel, CEO
Q: How has demand in key customer industries for Adhesives held up in Q1, and what is the outlook for Consumer Brands?
A: Adhesives are experiencing a softer market, particularly in North America, but we are outperforming the market. In Consumer Brands, we expect stronger performance in H2 due to innovation launches and the conclusion of portfolio measures. – Carsten Knobel, CEO
Q: With gross margins at all-time highs, why is the gap between gross and EBIT margins increasing?
A: We have increased investments in marketing and advertising to support brand equity and top-line growth, which impacts SG&A expenses. Despite divestments, we are focusing on innovation and brand support. – Marco Swoboda, CFO
Q: Could Adhesives benefit from increased European defense and infrastructure spending?
A: While Germany is not a major market for us, increased spending could positively impact our Adhesives business, particularly in defense-related applications. – Carsten Knobel, CEO
Q: Was there any market share loss or repricing event in Adhesives in Q4, and what is the outlook for 2025?
A: There was no significant market share loss or repricing event. We expect to outperform the market in 2025, driven by positive volumes and robust pricing, particularly in electric vehicles and electronics. – Carsten Knobel, CEO
Q: What factors contribute to the expected stronger performance in H2 for Consumer Brands?
A: The stronger H2 is expected due to a more pronounced innovation pipeline, nonrecurring operational impacts being resolved, and the positive impact of portfolio measures. – Carsten Knobel, CEO
Q: What is the outlook for free cash flow and M&A opportunities in 2025?
A: We expect free cash flow to remain strong, above EUR2 billion, supporting potential M&A opportunities in both business units. We are confident in our financial foundation to pursue attractive acquisitions. – Marco Swoboda, CFO
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
