Henkel has released its preliminary figures for the first half of 2024, reporting sales of 10,813 million euros, reflecting a solid organic sales growth of 2.9 percent. Notably, the adjusted return on sales (adjusted EBIT margin) increased to 14.9 percent, up from 11.5 percent the previous year. Adjusted earnings per preferred share were 2.78 euros, marking a 32.9 percent increase at constant exchange rates compared to the same period last year.
Given the strong performance so far and the anticipated business trends for the remainder of the year, Henkel has revised its earnings outlook for 2024 upwards. This positive adjustment is primarily driven by higher profit expectations in the Consumer Brands business unit, coupled with increased marketing investments to support innovations. The outlook also accounts for expected higher prices for direct materials in the latter half of the year. Henkel now forecasts the following sales and earnings development for fiscal 2024:
Organic sales growth: 2.5 to 4.5 percent (unchanged)
Adhesive Technologies: 2.0 to 4.0 percent (unchanged)
Consumer Brands: 3.0 to 5.0 percent (unchanged)
Adjusted return on sales: 13.5 to 14.5 percent (previously: 13.0 to 14.0 percent)
Adhesive Technologies: 16.0 to 17.0 percent (unchanged)
Consumer Brands: 13.0 to 14.0 percent (previously: 12.0 to 13.0 percent)
Adjusted earnings per preferred share (EPS): Increase in the range of +20.0 to +30.0 percent at constant exchange rates (previously: +15.0 to +25.0 percent)
“The overall very good business performance in the first half of the year and the fact that we raised our outlook for fiscal 2024 again, clearly demonstrate that we are on the right track with our strategy,” said Carsten Knobel, CEO of Henkel.
“The merger of our consumer businesses is successful and the implementation of our strategic measures and initiatives has a very positive impact on sales, gross margin and earnings development. In the first half of the year, we have maintained our increased investments in brands and innovations, and we will further increase them over the course of 2024 in order to underpin our ambitions for future growth. The structural and team changes initiated in our adhesives business are also showing tangible results and they are making a significant contribution to Henkel’s very strong performance. We are delivering what we have committed to, and we are on the right track for further profitable growth,” Knobel added.
Preliminary business results for the first half of 2024
According to preliminary figures, Henkel generated sales of 10,813 million euros in the first half of 2024. This corresponds to good organic sales growth of 2.9 percent. Growth in both business units was driven by a positive price development (+2.5 percent). At Group level, volume development, which continues to be influenced by the portfolio measures in the Consumer Brands unit, was slightly positive (+0.4 percent) and also showed a sequential improvement compared to the first quarter of 2024.
In nominal terms, sales were down by -1.0 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, in particular due to the sale of business activities in Russia and to negative foreign exchange effects, while the recently closed acquisitions of Seal for Life and Vidal Sassoon contributed positively.
Adjusted operating profit (adjusted EBIT) rose by 28.4 percent to 1,610 million euros in the first half of the year, compared to 1,254 million euros in the same period of the previous year. The adjusted return on sales (adjusted EBIT margin) also increased significantly by 340 basis points to 14.9 percent. Adjusted earnings per preferred share rose to 2.78 euros in the first half of 2024. At constant exchange rates, this corresponds to an increase of 32.9 percent compared to the first half of 2023.
Sales in the Adhesive Technologies business unit amounted to 5,475 million euros in the first half of 2024. Organic sales growth was at 2.0 percent. This development was driven by a price component of +0.2 percent and volume growth of 1.8 percent. Thus, the business unit showed a sequential improvement in volume development compared to the first quarter of 2024. Adjusted operating profit rose by 21.8 percent to 933 million euros in the first half of 2024, compared to 766 million euros in the same period of the previous year. The adjusted return on sales increased significantly by 300 basis points to 17.0 percent.
The Consumer Brands business unit generated sales of 5,266 million euros in the first six months of 2024. Organicsales growth amounted to 4.3 percent. This development was driven by a price component of +5.1 percent. Primarily due to continued portfolio optimisation measures, volume development was negative at -0.9 percent. However, it showed a sequential improvement compared to the first quarter of 2024. The adjusted operating profit amounted to 753 million euros and was therefore 34.7 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year. The adjusted return on sales increased significantly by 390 basis points to 14.3 percent.
Henkel will report on further details of the business development in the second quarter and the first half of the year on August 13, 2024, as planned.
Further expectations for 2024
The following expectations for 2024 remain unchanged compared to the updated outlook from the beginning of May 2024:
Acquisitions/Divestments: neutral impact on nominal sales growth
Translation of sales in foreign currencies: negative impact in the low to mid-single-digit percentage range
Prices for direct materials: flat development1
Restructuring expenses of 250 to 300 million euros
Cash outflows from investments in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets of between 650 and 750 million euros
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