Harju Elekter Group financial results, 1-6/2024

The Group’s results for the second quarter of 2024 were strong, as predicted. After a weak start to the year, we achieved historically high operating profit in the second quarter. The correct direction of the Group is also validated by the 7.8% operating profit margin, which gives us the opportunity to increase profitability to the desired level, promote business in a sustainable manner, and distribute profits to owners in the future.

The largest contributors to the financial results were once again the business units in Lithuania and Estonia, and, as could be expected during the high season, profitability was also restored in Finland. We will continue with the targeted strengthening of the team, completion of the delayed projects, and increasing the volume of new orders to improve the results in Sweden.

Despite the positive first half of the year, the orders volumes are showing signs of stabilisation, thus we don’t expect business volume growth in the second half of the year. The reduced orders from the Finnish distribution networks continue to affect us both this year and in the upcoming years, although we have been able to partially replace these orders with new customers and projects. The number of inquiries indicates strong investments in the electrification sector and an increase in workload regarding the orders for next year.

Revenue and financial results

The Group’s results for the second quarter and the first half of the year show that the company’s revenue has remained at the same level compared to the previous year, but there has been a significant increase in profit and efficiency. These are the company’s best second-quarter and six-month results over the years, surpassing previous revenue records in both periods. The revenue for the reporting quarter was 56.8 (2023 Q2: 56.8) million euros, and for the first half of the year, it reached 103.6 (2023 6M: 102.0) million euros.

The Group’s operating expenses decreased by 3.7% compared to the previous quarters, reaching 52.2 (2023 Q2: 54.2) million euros. The most significant reduction was due to a decrease in the cost of sales by 1.5 million, totaling 48.6 million euros, and a reduction in administrative expenses by 0.5 million euros, amounting to 2.2 million euros. In the first half of the year, operating expenses totaled 97.8 (2023 6M: 98.0) million euros. The cost of sales increased by 0.5 million over the six months, reaching 90.6 million euros, with the increase primarily occurring in the first quarter.

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Distribution costs, labour costs, and depreciation of non-current assets remained at the same level as the previous year, totaling 1.3 million, 1.0 million, and 10.6 million euros, respectively, in the second quarter. Distribution costs and administrative expenses decreased by a combined 0.7 million euros over the six months, totaling 2.5 million and 4.7 million euros, respectively. Labour costs increased by 0.4 million compared to the first six months, totaling 20.6 million euros. The increase in labour costs was largely influenced by a significant reduction in the number of employees at the Estonian and Lithuanian production units, which included severance payments and compensations.

Gross profit reached 8.2 (2023 Q2: 6.6) million euros, with a gross profit margin of 14.4% (2023 Q2: 11.6%). Operating profit (EBIT) doubled to 4.5 (2023 Q2: 2.2) million euros, resulting in an operating margin of 7.8% (2023 Q2: 3.8%). Net profit for the second quarter was 3.5 (2023 Q2: 0.9) million euros, and the net profit margin was 6.1% (2023 Q2: 1.6%).  The reason for the increase in profitability is the resolution of supply chain difficulties we experienced last year and the optimisation of the number of employees, which has enabled us to increase production efficiency. Also, the factories were operating at near maximum capacity and production was more efficient than last year.

During the first half of the year, the Group earned revenue of 103.6 (2023 6M: 102.0) million euros, which remained quite similar to the results from the same period last year, increasing by 1.5%. The six-month gross profit was 13.0 (2023 6M: 12.0) million euros.

Core business and markets

The Group’s core segment, production, did not contribute to revenue growth. In the second quarter, the production segment generated 54.3 (2023 Q2: 54.0) million euros, and for the first six months, it reached 98.7 (2023 6M: 96.6) million euros. The largest growth in sales was in the Lithuanian production unit, which focuses on developing electrical distribution and frequency inverter equipment and solutions for the maritime and industrial sectors. The production segment accounted for 95.3% of the Group’s revenue for the quarter and the half-year.

In the reporting quarter, revenue from Estonia was 6.9 (2023 Q2: 5.6) million euros, which was 24% higher than the previous year. For the first six months of the year, revenue grew more modestly by 8.1%, reaching 11.4 (2023 6M: 10.5) million euros. The increase in revenue in Estonia was mainly due to higher sales of compact substations to electrical distribution network customers.

Revenue from Finland was 20.6 (2023 Q2: 24.5) million euros in the second quarter and 37.5 (2023 6M: 43.1) million euros for the first six months, representing a decrease of 16% and 13%, respectively, compared to the previous year. The decline in revenue in Finland was due to lower demand for compact substations, resulting from changes in utility price control methods implemented at the beginning of 2024.

Revenue from Sweden was relatively stable, reaching 8.7 (2023 Q2: 9.1) million euros in the second quarter and 15.6 (2023 6M: 15.6) million euros for the first six months. The modest decrease in sales in Sweden was due to changes in the business model and the decision to stop selling EPC projects (turnkey solutions) and focus on factory products. The Swedish market accounted for 15% (2023 Q2: 16% and 2023 6M: 15%) of the Group’s consolidated revenue for the quarter and the half-year.

Revenue from Norway decreased to 8.0 (2023 Q2: 11.5) million euros compared to the second quarter of the previous year due to a reduction in sales of drive cabinets and MCC-s (Motor control centers) to maritime sector contractual clients. This decline was mainly due to a high comparison base, caused by overcapacity at the Lithuanian production unit in 2023 and a lower volume of orders this year. For the first six months, revenue from Norway was 17.3 (2023 6M: 15.5) million euros. The Norwegian market accounted for 14.0% (2023 Q2: 20.2%) of the Group’s revenue for the quarter and 16.7% (2023 6M: 15.2%) for the half-year.

Investments

During the reporting period, Harju Elekter invested a total of 1.5 (2023 6M: 2.6) million euros in non-current assets, including 0.7 (2023 6M: 2.1) million euros in real estate investments, 0.4 (2023 6M: 0.4) million euros in property, plant, and equipment, and 0.4 (2023 6M: 0.1) million euros in intangible assets. The investments included large-scale renovation and reconstruction work at the Keila industrial park, aimed at meeting the needs of the long-term tenant, Prysmian Group Baltics. Additionally, production technology equipment was acquired, and production and process management systems were developed.

As of the reporting date, the value of the Group’s long-term financial investments was 27.7 (31.12.23: 29.2) million euros. During the reporting quarter, most of the listed securities were sold, generating a total of 1.6 million euros from their sale, with a realized profit of 0.2 million euros.

Share

The company’s share price on the last trading day of the reporting quarter on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange closed at 4.74 euros. As of 30 June 2024, AS Harju Elekter Group had 11,025 shareholders.

Priit Treial
CFO and Member of the Management Board
+372 674 7400

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