SMA confirms guidance for 2018

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In the first three months of the year, German inverter manufacturer SMA Solar Technologie AG was able to increase sales by more than 5% to €182.5 million, compared to the same period of the previous year.

Sales of solar inverters also rose slightly from 1.7 to 1.8 GW, according to the company. EBITDA increased from €15.9 million to €17.5 million. SMA described this growth as significant, as in the first quarter 2017 a high single-digit million amount from the sale of SMA Railway Technology AG was included in the result. Sales and EBITDA in the first quarter are be in line with the forecast published at the end of March. EBIT also improved year-on-year from €2.5 million to €4.3 million.

The company’s net profit, however, fell significantly. It dropped from €6.3 to €2.8 million in the first quarter, with the company not  providing a reason for this decrease. Net liquidity fell slightly compared to the end of the year to €444.8 million. With an equity ratio of 50.1%, the company still has a “very solid balance sheet structure”. Especially since there is also a long-term credit line of German bank of €100 million. The company estimated its order backlog at €647.3 million, including €391 million in the service business and €256.3 million in the product business.

“We are satisfied with the development of our core business in the first quarter of 2018,” explained SMA CEO Pierre-Pascal Urbon. Demand remains at the same level to the previous quarters. “We also expect a stronger second half of the year, and are therefore optimistic to reach the annual targets,” said Urbon.

The confirmed forecast for 2018 envisages sales between €900 and €1,000 million and an EBITDA between €90 and €110 million. The guidance includes expenses for the construction of the digital business of more than €10 million and depreciation of about €50 million. According to Urbon, SMA is consistently pursuing the addition of its energy services business.

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