EQS-News

Strong financial and balance sheet figures: STEMMER IMAGING proposes EUR 2.70 dividend and announces market entry in North America - Seite 3

The consistent and continued concentration of measures on the strategic positioning as a systems house and the associated focus on the value-added offering as part of the STEMMER IMAGING MORE program enabled an improvement in the gross margin to an all-time high of 39.7% (previous year: 37.6%). The fourth quarter of 2023 recorded a record gross margin of 41.3% (Q4 2022: 37.1%). Revenue amounted to EUR 33.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 - compared to a strong Q4 2022 with revenue at EUR 42.4 million. EBITDA in Q4 amounted to EUR 7.1 million (Q4 2022: EUR 9.5 million).

In 2023, the company continued its measures to strengthen its group-wide processes and align the organization. As part of this, the branding of the entire Group was adapted to STEMMER IMAGING and the Spanish and Latin American subgroup was largely integrated. This led to a one-off special charge of EUR 1.3 million. The strength of operational management is also reflected in the significant reduction in inventory value from EUR 18.9 million at the end of fiscal year 2022 to EUR 12.7 million. STEMMER IMAGING's ongoing commitment to sustainability was confirmed by a renewed Ecovadis Silver rating under increased given requirements. Additionally, the company achieved high customer and employee satisfaction ratings in the stakeholder dialog.

The company was able to report an EBITDA of EUR 27.0 million. Despite the decline in revenue, the EBITDA range of EUR 26-32 million anticipated at the start of 2023 was achieved (previous year: EUR 28.2 million). This corresponds to an EBITDA profitability of 18.4% (previous year: 18.2%).

EBIT amounted to EUR 21.9 million (previous year: EUR 24.3 million) and was additionally impacted by the amortization of the INFAIMON brand name in the amount of EUR 0.9 million. Earnings per share were EUR 2.42 (previous year: EUR 2.77).

STEMMER IMAGING AG's free cash flow again developed very positively in the past fiscal year at EUR 19.3 million (previous year: EUR 17.4 million) and almost compensated for the dividend payment of EUR 19.5 million.

Dividend Proposal

As already published in our medium-term guidance in October 2023, STEMMER IMAGING plans to distribute at least 70% of its annual earnings to the shareholders in the future. The distribution of a shareholder-oriented dividend of EUR 2.70 per share for the 2023 financial year will therefore be proposed to the 2024 Annual General Meeting.