Smurfit Kappa Group plc ('SKG' or 'the Group') announced results for the six months ending 30 June 2022.
Key Points:
- Revenue growth of 36% to €6,385 million
- EBITDA growth of 50% to €1,174 million with an EBITDA margin of 18.4%
- EPS growth of 85% to 221.9 cent
- ROCE of 19.3%
- Interim dividend increased by 8% to 31.6 cents per share
Performance Review and Outlook
Tony Smurfit, the Group CEO, commented:
"I am pleased to report a strong first half performance with revenue growth of 36%, EBITDA of €1,174 million, an EBITDA margin of 18.4%, EPS growth of 85%, and ROCE of 19.3%."
"Our strong performance is a result of the many actions we have taken over several years. These actions include significant customer-focused investments to meet growth, providing the most innovative and sustainable paper-based packaging in the marketplace, and selective acquisitions ensuring the security of supply to our customers."
"In the first half of 2022, we have overcome many challenges, including sharply increasing input costs, logistics and supply chain constraints, COVID-19 disruption, and the impact of the war in Ukraine. SKG's integrated model, our geographic diversity, our continued focus on efficiency through investment, and our bespoke business applications, have enabled us to offset these challenges together with paper and corrugated price recovery."
"I am especially proud of the tremendous efforts of our people who continue to deliver for our customers under these circumstances. Our performance-led culture has allowed us to go from strength to strength, building on our leadership position in the markets in which we operate."
"Both our regions performed strongly during the first six months, with Europe reporting EBITDA of €926 million with an EBITDA margin of 18.7% and the Americas reporting EBITDA of €271 million with an EBITDA margin of 18.8%. Box volume growth for the first six months versus last year was 2.5%."
"During the first half, we completed the acquisition of two corrugated converting operations in the UK and Argentina, and we announced the development of our new corrugated operation in Morocco."
"In April, we published our 15th Sustainable Development Report, which highlighted the significant progress made in 2021 across our key metrics. These included a further 6% reduction in carbon intensity, a reduction in water consumption of over 6%, and a decrease in waste to landfill intensity of 7% over the previous year."
"In Smurfit Kappa, we are very confident about our prospects. Inevitably, with the current global issues that surround us, there are greater uncertainties than we have seen for some time. Nevertheless, we continue to see many opportunities for growth in the sustainable and innovative packaging solutions that we offer customers and the unique footprint of the businesses we operate. Our first half performance has set a strong foundation for the remainder of 2022 and beyond."
"Reflecting the confidence in the quality of our business and its prospects, the Board has approved an 8% increase in the interim dividend." Click here to see the presentation.
For more information:
Smurfit Kappa
www.smurfitkappa.com