VBG Group AB Class B

VBG Group AB Class B

27.90
EUR
-0.25
(-0.89%)
1.49EPS
19.28P/E
720.12MMarket Cap
Oct 27Next Earn

Q4 FY2025 · Earnings Call TranscriptFebruary 18, 2026

Operator

Now, I will hand the conference over to the speakers, CEO Anders Erkén and CFO Fredrik Jignéus. Please go ahead.

Anders Erkén

Hi, and very welcome to the presentation of the Q4 2025 report from the VBG Group. It's me and Fredrik here, and I will give you an overview, and Fredrik will give you more details during the presentation.

We will take a quick snapshot and summarize 2025. As you all know, it was sort of a turbulent year, and from a geopolitical point of view, from a trade war point of view, and we can say that we have spent a lot of resources, and the organization has done a fantastic job when comes to mitigating the tariffs that was imposed by the US administration.

Overall, we can split the year in two halves. The first half we considered to be a slower demand, and from quarter 3, and also as you will see in quarter 4, the demand picked up, and we can see it on the revenue side and also on the order intake side.

We ended up by close to 5.4 billion SEK in revenues, which is a revenue decline of 3.3%, but also we had a tough currency headwind about 6%. We are also proud that we achieved three really nice acquisitions during the first part of the year, and they are also contributing to the overall targets of VBG Group.

We can go to the next. Quarter 4 to summarize the highlights during the quarter, and we can say overall that it's the fifth consecutive quarter that we see revenue growth quarter to quarter.

Revenues increased by 2.8% compared to the fourth quarter 2024, and adjusted for currency and acquired volumes, sales increased by almost 5%—4.6% to be exact. As I mentioned, the currency headwind escalated in the end of the year and reached about 10%.

If you just adjust for currency, the group increased revenues by 13%, where the three acquisitions from last year contributed with 65% of the growth. It's also worth mentioning that our geographic footprint continues to develop, and we saw revenue growth in all three geographic markets, which we call North America, Europe, and Rest of the World.

From the revenue side, it's interesting to see where we had a slowdown in the first half of the year on one of the most important segments, the side-by-side segment for MTS, and revenue continued to grow also in quarter 4 and reached an increase of 32%. Also positive things for us that is the defense segment within Truck & Trailer Equipment increased with 46% compared to quarter 4 last year, or 2024.

Of course, price adjustments or price compensations has added to the growth during the quarter. Another important thing for us that we see a good momentum is the growing order intake, and we can see that order intake in the quarter increased by 7%, and if you just make it currency adjusted, it's 16%, which is a good momentum stepping into the quarter 1 2026.

We managed to maintain a gross margin of 13.1%, and here is a lot of swings and carousels, as we say in Swedish, but Fredrik will give you all the details. I can just mention that we are disappointed by the development in the quarter for the division MTS.

The reasoning behind the weak performance from a profitability point of view, that is really three things. That is the raw material.

If you look at raw material commodities, I would say copper and aluminum is a major part of the material cost in MTS. Raw material prices for copper has increased by 30% from the beginning of August until the year end.

It's the same thing with aluminum that has increased by 17% from August to the end of the year. We are committed to increase prices in the market until this will be finalized in the end of quarter 2.

Of course, as mentioned, the currency had a major effect on the result as well. Last but not least, the customer mix.

When we talk about the customer mix, it's the speciality segment within Mobile Thermal Solutions that dropped in sales compared to quarter 4 2024. Speciality, that could be mining trucks, that could be also fire trucks and these kind of specialty vehicles that is an important segment for us.

Last but not least, we had a very strong operating cash flow of 270 million in the quarter, and it's the second-best quarter from a cash flow point of view for an individual quarter. By that, I leave the word to Fredrik.

Please.

Fredrik Jignéus

Thank you, Anders. In the fourth quarter, sales increased by 2.8%, and adjusted for currency and acquired sales, the growth rate was 4.6%.

Like Anders mentions, FX headwind is about 10% for the group. EBITA amounted to 172 million in the quarter, and our EBITA margin declined from 14.3% in the third quarter of '24 to 13.1% in the quarter of '25.

The SEK continued to strengthen during the quarter and have an impact on the group in all three divisions. During the fall, we unfortunately discovered errors in the inventory valuation in the Polish company within MTS.

The errors mostly affects the historical years '22 to '24, but 13 million SEK affects the fourth quarter of '25. The 13 million SEK refers to the period before September 2025, but was entered into the fourth quarter as part of the correction.

The correction of the error is shown in Note 2 in the quarterly report, and all numbers for the comparison year 2024 has been corrected throughout the report. We have taken actions and strengthened the internal control in order to avoid similar errors to go undetected going forward.

During the fourth quarter, we have received another retroactive pandemic support in the US of total 11 million SEK, which has affected EBITA positively. At the same time, we have some restructuring costs within MTS of 2.8 million SEK.

The operating margin was affected by increased prices for raw materials such as copper and aluminum. EBITA was positively affected by one-time income of 19.6 million relating to the reversal of an additional purchase price or earnout that will not be paid to the former owners of the company that was acquired.

EBITA was negatively affected by almost 8 million SEK in revaluation of working capital items in the balance sheet as a result of the strengthening of the SEK. In comparison quarter, the corresponding positive impact was almost 8 million SEK.

EBITA in the comparison quarter was affected by capital gain of almost 10 million SEK relating to the sale of a warehouse and distribution property in Denmark. Operating cash flow, as Anders said, was strong and amounted to 270 million SEK in the fourth quarter, compared to 294 million SEK in the fourth quarter of 2024.

We will go through the fourth quarter with some touchdown on each division. Truck & Trailer Equipment, to start with: sales in the quarter increased by 10.6% compared to previous year, amounting to almost 406 million SEK.

Adjusted for FX and acquired volumes, organic growth amounted to 5.2%. The demand for decoupling products continues still high, and the defense sector has grown by almost 57% in the quarter.

The market for trailer components in Europe moves sideways on low level during the fourth quarter of 2025. EBITA for Truck & Trailer Equipment has decreased in the fourth quarter compared to previous year to 80 million SEK, with an EBITA margin of 19.7% compared to 22.5%.

Like I said before, EBITA in the comparison quarter was affected by the capital gain of 10 million SEK relating to the sale of the warehouse and distribution property in Denmark. Mobile Thermal Solutions: sales for the quarter increased by 0.6% compared to the previous year, amounting to almost 641 million SEK.

Adjusted for FX and acquired volume, the organic growth increased by 9.5%. EBITA for Mobile Thermal Solutions amounted to 41 million SEK, and the EBITA margin decreased from 8.1% to 6.3%.

The result in the quarter was negatively affected by the 13 million SEK relating to the cost in the Polish operation that should have been recorded in the previous quarters of 2025. The quarter was then affected by increased costs for raw materials, primarily copper and aluminum, as well for a less favorable customer mix.

During the quarter, restructuring cost of almost 3 million SEK was taken, which are expected to strengthen profitability going forward. This has contributed to a lower operating profit and a lower operating margin compared to 2024.

Ringfeder Power Transmission: sales for the quarter decreased by 2.8% compared to the previous year. Newly acquired Malmedie contributes according to plan, and adjusted for FX, organic growth amounted to minus 7.6%.

Then we should remember that the quarter of 2024 was one of the best quarters in Ringfeder Power Transmission's history regarding to sales and profitability. EBITA for Ringfeder Power Transmission increased to 58 million SEK, with an EBITA margin of 21.8%.

EBITA was positively affected in the quarter by one-time income, the 19.6 million relating to the reversal of the earnout that will not be paid out. Ringfeder Power Transmission, excluding Malmedie, is primarily affected by product mix variation between quarters.

North America sales amounts to 49%. Sales outside Europe and North America is increasing by 21%.

Of course, the acquisition of Italmatic in Brazil is a large portion of this growth. We have an aftermarket business in average in the group of 23%.

For 2025, cash flow came in somewhat lower than comparable year. The cash flow before change in working capital tied up is the main reason for that, but we have also seen high working capital tied up in accounts receivable in the end of the year due to the revenue growth that we have seen the last six months.

After 2025, we have a net debt position, if you adjust for pension liabilities and leasing commitments, of 573 million SEK. During 2025, we have had a lower cash flow from operations due to lower underlying result and somewhat higher working capital tied up in accounts receivables.

We have also made three acquisitions and started to build our new production facility in Toronto, which explains the change in cash position. VBG Group has still a strong financial position that can be used to develop the group going forward.

ROCE amounts to 29.7%. The decrease during 2025 are relating to the acquisition of land and building in Toronto, which increases the balance sheet, but does not give in positive EBITDA contribution before consolidating the three facilities that we have in Toronto.

The acquisition of Italmatic, Ledson, and Malmedie together with lower EBITDA compared to 2024. This KPI is not a pro forma, which means that Italmatic, Ledson, and Malmedie does not contribute with full 12 months in this KPI.

Anders Erkén

Thank you, Fredrik. We can say that, like many other companies listed on the stock exchange, we have the sustainability agenda high up.

We will publish our first yearly report within the sustainability area in April this year, and we can also mention that the Board of Directors took a decision to have a Scope 3 target to reduce CO2 emissions by 62% with 2024 as a base until 2040. Last but not least, if we talk about future focus and looking ahead, it's clear that we anticipate a continued market volatility and, of course, all the geopolitical tension that we have in the world, and this will continue.

We don't see an end to it. We have a strong, stable organization that is agile and responsive to changing conditions.

As we mentioned in the Q3 call, of course, these tariffs, it's a challenge, but the net impact on our operations is marginal. What we have seen now in quarter 4, that the largest impact was the commodity price increases for MTS.

As we have mentioned many times, it's copper and aluminum. We are committed to offset these cost increases with price adjustments during the first half of 2026.

It's really still ongoing, but we will see the effects in the latter part of Q2 2026. Importantly, as Fredrik mentioned, we have a strong financial position, and we will continue to increase our revenues in the companies.

We see good potential in the M&A area. Of course, we will also capitalize on the organic growth and the momentum we see in the market now, both on the truck side in Europe, but also on machine building, the mining sector, and also on the off-road side, especially in the US.

As we mentioned with the order intake, we are committed to capitalizing on the strong order book going forward, and we see a strong momentum with 7% adjusted for currency, and 16% underlying if you adjust for currency. Of course, we see opportunities and the need to increase profitability in certain areas, and we will continue to do price adjustments in the market, but also work on the efficiency side.

We see positive signs now that we have a better capacity utilization, and we will make efficiency gains during the coming quarters as well. Last but not least, we have a good plan now to complete the new building in Toronto, where we consolidate three units into one.

We will have the keys to the building in quarter 3, and we will see the first good gains from this during the second half of 2027. We have a lot of good activities going on with good momentum in the organization.

By that, we are open for question and answers.

Operator

If you wish to ask a question, please dial pound key 5 on your telephone keypad to enter the queue. If you wish to withdraw your question, please dial pound key 6 on your telephone keypad.

The next question comes from Gustav Berneblad from Nordea. Please go ahead.

Gustav Berneblad

Yes, good afternoon. It's Gustav here from Nordea.

Just to start off here on your comments on the order intake growth of 16%, and you say it's adjusted for FX. Is it also adjusted for M&A, meaning that we're looking at a 16% organic order intake growth in the quarter, or what's your take there?

Anders Erkén

Yes. We want to be very, very clear: the 16% includes the order intake from the acquisitions as well.

Gustav Berneblad

That's very clear. Perfect.

Anders Erkén

Currency adjusted.

Gustav Berneblad

Oh, that's very clear. Thank you.

Out of the sort of the 330 basis point year-over-year decline in MTS on the margin there, how much was related to the increased raw material costs seen in the quarter, and with the price increases you are implementing now in MTS, will that offset this headwind fully, would you say, or?

Anders Erkén

You're totally correct. I can't say exact the figure what the commodity prices over the quarter should be, but we have a clear plan to mitigate these cost increases during the first half of 2026.

It's already started, but before we have gone through all the customer base in North America, I believe we will be finalized during quarter 2.

Gustav Berneblad

Oh, that's perfect. Then I thought maybe you can help me here because you comment on a weak customer mix in MTS, right, but you also comment on stronger demand within side-by-side, which should, I guess, contribute to a more positive mix effect also.

I was just wondering if you can elaborate a little bit of the total mix effect here coming in on the margin in MTS.

Anders Erkén

Yes. For us, we have three customer segments within the off-road side.

It's the side-by-side segment, it's agriculture and construction, and then specialty vehicles. From a gross margin point of view, the specialty vehicles, low volume, high customization, has a higher margin.

During the quarter 4, we have a lower sales that doesn't offset the volume increase that we have in the side-by-side segment. Oh,

Gustav Berneblad

that's very clear. Thank you for that.

The last question for me here: when you look at the full-year 2025 margin in MTS, reaching 10% we saw here for 2025, do you see this as a difficult margin to reach for full-year 2026 when you head in here?

Anders Erkén

Of course, it's hard to look in the crystal ball, but we are confident that the price increases will mitigate. We see a strong trend in the order book.

I think you know it better than us, Gustav: I think we will see the peak of the currency headwind in quarter 1. How these parameters will impact, of course, it's in our genes to increase profitability in this area.

We do a lot of activities, but we have to understand that the peak, at least in quarter 1, will be on the currency side.

Gustav Berneblad

That's very clear. Perfect.

Thank you very much. That was all for me.

Anders Erkén

Thank you, Gustav.

Operator

The next question comes from Jonny Jin from SEB. Please go ahead.

Jonny Jin

Good afternoon, Anders and Fredrik. Hope you can hear me.

I have a couple of questions as well. I think I will start with order intake.

We touched upon that a little bit, and orders looks good. Could you please comment how was the order growth in each segment respectively?

Anders Erkén

Yes. We can say like this: the highest order intake from a percentage point of view was for RPT.

Secondly, it comes to MTS. Third is Truck & Trailer Equipment.

Just to make it clear, if you adjust for currency, the order intake increase in quarter 4 is 16%, including the three acquisitions in the whole thing.

Jonny Jin

Okay. That's clear.

In Ringfeder Power Transmission, I know that you said that we need to look at this rolling 12-month basis, but this stronger orders than in this quarter, when is that had to be delivered in sales?

Anders Erkén

Generally, for all divisions, we have a visibility of 3 to 4 months. When it comes to Ringfeder Power Transmission in particular, it is in the same range: 3 to 4 months visibility in this area.

Jonny Jin

Okay. That's clear.

On MTS then, in your order intake, I know you talked about the price of commodity prices and such, but mix, if you look at the mix in the order intake for MTS, how is that mix looking?

Anders Erkén

The mix at the moment is that we have a higher order intake on the off-road side, and particularly in the side-by-side segment.

Jonny Jin

Okay. The mix in Q4 is rather representative for Q1 as well?

Maybe it's a fair assumption then.

Anders Erkén

Absolutely. I fully agree with you.

Jonny Jin

Okay. That's fair.

Then if you compare the order intake to sales in the quarter, I assume that it sounds that order intake is higher than sales, but what sort of book-to-bill are you entering the new year with? Yeah.

Anders Erkén

Johnny, we have a higher order intake than sales in the quarter. That is by far.

Jonny Jin

Okay. Can you say something how much higher than sales?

Anders Erkén

I don't have the currency-adjusted figure in my head, but somewhere between 8 and 10%.

Jonny Jin

Okay. That's clear.

Then just one final from my side. Given your current visibility, as you said here, and now we are in February, what is the outlook here for 2026, would you say?

Anders Erkén

Yeah. As I mentioned with the order book and the visibility, we had a good start of the year.

We see a good trend in the market, good momentum in the market, both in North America and we see the light in the end of the tunnel when it comes to Europe. All in all, we feel we have a good momentum, and basically with our visibility, we don't see any dark clouds in the sky.

The only thing which I mentioned before, that is the currency at the moment, and I think we will reach a peak when it comes to the strengthening of the krona, and especially to the US dollar and the euro during quarter 1.

Jonny Jin

That's clear. Sounds promising.

I would just squeeze in one final, sorry. On the MTS, you mentioned order intake is looking good and such, but how is the inventory levels, would you say, at your customers now?

Anders Erkén

I think it's a relevant question, and we saw the first half-year of 2025 where there was a clear inventory reduction especially in the side-by-side segment in the distribution landscape. From quarter 3, I think the inventory levels are maybe a little bit too low, but the general trend we can see now that sales and order intake continues in this area.

That is the only answer I can give at the moment.

Jonny Jin

Okay. That's clear.

Thank you. That was all for me.

Have a great day.

Anders Erkén

Thank you, Johnny.

Operator

Thank you, Johnny. As a reminder, if you wish to ask a question, please dial pound key 5 on your telephone keypad.

Anders Erkén

There's

Operator

There are no more phone questions at this time. I hand the conference back to the speakers for any written questions and closing comments.

Anders Erkén

I think this was fairly clear, because we don't have any more written questions. By that, I thank you very much for your attention, and wish you a good, nice day.

Operator

Thank you very much.

Anders Erkén

Thank you. Bye-bye.