Ulf Lilius
Welcome to Momentum Group's presentation of our interim report. I'm Ulf Lilius, President and CEO.
Joining me today is Niklas Enmark, our Vice President and CFO, and together we will guide you through our report. Let me begin with the main highlights from the quarter.
We increased revenue, improved earnings, and delivered strong cash flow. The Industry business area was the main driver, with organic growth and stronger earnings.
Acquired businesses also made significant contribution in both business areas. Organic sales were marginally positive overall, supported by good performance in Sweden.
We also improved margins while maintaining our focus on cost control and operational efficiency. Looking at the market, the picture was mixed.
Demand strengthened in Sweden, particularly in mining, while the automotive industry continued its gradual recovery. Our service operation also performed well.
At the same time, activity in pulp and paper remained low, and demand in Denmark was still weak. More broadly, conditions for Nordic industry improved gradually during the quarter.
However, uncertainty remains, both globally and in our local markets, and customers are still cautious. Against this backdrop, our companies continue to focus on the factors they can control: staying close to the customers, managing costs, streamlining operations, adjusting prices where needed, and actively driving sales.
Turning to acquisitions, after the end of the quarter, we acquired Polymo, which is a specialist in polymeric dosing equipment for water and wastewater treatment. This brings the number of acquisitions completed so far this year to 7, with combined annual revenue of approximately 260 million SEK.
From 1st of January 2026, we will also introduce a new group structure with three business areas: Power Transmission, Industrial Solutions, and Process Technology. Our long-term goal remains unchanged: to double EBITA again by the end of 2030.
With our refined business model, strong cash flow, and controlled balance sheet, we are well positioned to continue developing our companies and making value-creating acquisitions and investments. Over time, this should support higher profit and increased earnings per share.
I will now hand over to Niklas, who will guide us through the report.
Niklas Enmark
Thank you, Ulf. Overall, the business climate in the group's core markets in the Nordic countries developed in a positive way during the quarter.
Broken down into geographies, Sweden exhibited solid organic growth driven by increased demand in a growing number of customer segments, especially products to the engineering industry, but also from good capacity utilization in the service business, primarily due to the scheduled maintenance stops during the quarter. The exception to the more positive trend is still pulp and paper, where we see low activity levels.
Demand in Finland and Norway was stable. However, revenue in Norway was negatively impacted during the quarter by certain delays in product deliveries which affected the infrastructure business.
Both business areas were also impacted by the weak performance in the Danish market, mainly due to lower project sales following the completion of a number of major projects during the third quarter of last year, which have then affected sales ever since. In total, revenue increased by 8% to 805 million SEK, of which acquisitions contributed by 52 million SEK or 7% to the increase.
The organic increase was just slightly positive, but then with the large variations between geographies and business areas, as I described. In the Industry business area, organic revenue increased by 5%, whereas Infrastructure decreased by 4%, impacted especially by the performance in Norway and Denmark.
Per customer segment, the performance in the mining industry was positive, and a gradual improvement was noted in the automotive industry, while paper and pulp remained sluggish, as mentioned. Signs of a cautious recovery in project sales were also noted.
Purchase prices for some products continue to increase, in part due to the situation in the Middle East. The group's companies maintained a good delivery capacity and price discipline, with generally improved gross margins as a consequence.
The general market climate for Nordic industry, and thus many of the group's customers, is gradually improving, despite a lot of uncertainties. Our view is that customers are expected to continue to display a certain degree of caution, and we are maintaining our focus on cost control, price adjustments, and efforts to promote sales.
Now turning to our two business areas and some comments what has happened during the quarter. Revenue for the Industry business area increased by 11% to 439 million SEK compared with the same quarter of last year.
Revenue for comparable units, measured in local currency and adjusted for the number of trading days, increased by 5% compared to the previous year. Our EBITA in the business area increased by 19% to 63 million SEK, corresponding to an EBITA margin of 14.4%.
The EBITA margin thus continues to develop positively, attributed to higher gross margins and stable costs for comparable companies and strong contributions from acquisitions. The business area's profitability, measured as return on working capital, amounted to 67%.
Power Transmission, within this business area, for that division, sales increased with good growth in the mining and automotive industries, and a stable to positive trend in several other customer segments, but was weaker in pulp and paper. Higher gross margins, coupled with the increased sales volume, meant that EBITA as well as EBITA margins increased during the quarter.
In Specialist, the other part of this business area, for comparable units, sales and EBITA increased, with a positive performance in most companies. The Danish market continued to be characterized by low activity levels and restrained investment decisions.
During the quarter, acquired operations contributed revenue of 23 million SEK with strong contribution to earnings. Revenue for the Infrastructure business area increased by 4% to 373 million SEK compared with the same quarter of last year.
Revenue for comparable units, measured in local currency and adjusted for the number of trading days, decreased by 4% compared to the previous year. EBITA increased by 10% to 55 million SEK, corresponding to an EBITA margin of 14.7%.
The business area's profitability, measured as return on working capital, amounted to 64%. In Flow Technology, the first part of this business area, sales for comparable units declined during the quarter, primarily as a result of lower volumes in Norway and Denmark.
As can be seen in the report, these markets exhibited lower sales between 20 to 30% during the quarter. As commented also, sales in Norway were impacted by supplier delays, causing postponement in deliveries.
In Denmark, demand situation was weak. The sales trend in Sweden was positive, and improvements were also noted in parts of the Finnish operations.
Lower sales levels impacted earnings negatively, but were offset in part by positive effects from cost adjustments implemented in Denmark. Acquired businesses contributed revenue of 21 million SEK and had a strong impact on earnings.
Sales in Technical Solutions improved gradually during the quarter, partially as a result of scheduled maintenance work. The improvement in both this and the previous quarter means we have now surpassed previous year, despite the slow start of the service season this year.
Demand remained cautious in parts of the operations, primarily from customers in pulp and paper. Improved gross margins enabled a positive performance of earnings.
Acquired businesses contributed revenue of 8 million SEK with a positive impact on earnings. Now for some comments on the group financial performance.
EBITA in the group during the third quarter increased by 15% to 109 million SEK. The EBITA margin was 13.5%.
The profit expansion was delivered through organic sales increase and improvements in both gross and EBITA margins in the existing companies. Adding to that was strong contributions from acquisitions in both business areas.
Operating profit was 93 million SEK, corresponding to an operating margin of 10.9%. Operating profit is affected by higher level of amortization, with an effect of 2 million SEK compared to the previous year.
Now if we look at the full reporting period, that is January until September of this year, the group's revenue increased to 2.4 billion SEK approximately, an increase of 5% in total, and where comparable units decreased by 1.8% after the weak start of the year. Per business area for the reporting period, net sales in total increased by 4% in the Industry business area, and in Infrastructure net sales increased by 6%.
Our EBITA in the group increased by 11% to 292 million SEK with an EBITA margin of 12.0%. Per business area, Infrastructure increased its EBITA with 15%, and Industry by 7%.
Both business areas increased their EBITA margins during the reporting period to 14.3% in Industry and 11.7% in Infrastructure. Earnings per share is at 3.35 SEK per share for the reporting period, meaning plus 12%, and for the rolling 12 months is at 4.15 SEK per share.
Then to conclude on the financial part of this presentation, looking at some profitability ratios and also the cash flow. Our financial metric of EBITA over working capital remained relatively stable at 59%.
Our return on equity was at 24%. That is based on the rolling 12 months numbers then.
Cash flow during the quarter saw a significant improvement compared to last year, supported by strong earnings and stable working capital. Cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital for the full reporting period amounted to 290 million SEK.
During the period, inventories decreased by 11 million SEK, operating receivables decreased by 54 million SEK, and operating liabilities increased by 16 million SEK. Cash flow from operating activities for the reporting period, January until September, thus amounted to 263 million SEK, and for Q3 isolated amounted to 98 million SEK compared to 38 million SEK for the corresponding quarter of last year.
Cash flow from investing activities for the reporting period amounted to 194 million SEK. This includes then acquisitions of 169 million SEK, settlements of acquisitions, that is earnouts and call options, of 16 million SEK, and capex investments of 9 million SEK, compared to 12 million SEK last year.
Our operational net liability decreased during the quarter and amounted to 450 million SEK at the end of the period. The increase from the beginning of the year is mainly explained by the cash flow from the operating activities, and dividends paid, and also acquisitions of course during the period.
Our operational net debt to IFRS-adjusted EBITDA ratio was around 1.1 at the end of the period. With that, I hand back to you, Ulf.
Ulf Lilius
Thank you, Niklas. I now like to look ahead and focus on two important developments: first, our new group structure, which will take effect on 1st of January, and second, how we're evolving the Momentum model, from two growth engines to four mutually reinforcing engines.
Momentum Group has grown significantly in recent years. As the group becomes larger and more diverse, our organization and ways of working must evolve as well.
That is why we are taking the important next step in Momentum Group 3.0. From 1st of January 2026, we will introduce a new group structure.
Our current two business areas and four business units will be replaced by three business areas: Power Transmission, Industrial Solutions, and Process Technology. The purpose is very clear: to create better conditions for business development, acquisitions, and operational improvement.
With clearer responsibilities, more efficient business support, and better allocation of resources, the three business areas will take a more distinct role as active owners. They will support, challenge, and develop the companies.
At the same time, each company will retain full responsibility for its customers, markets, and earnings. In this way, we strengthen our active ownership without compromising the decentralization and entrepreneurship at the heart of our business model.
For further details, please refer to the separate press release. This slide shows how we allocate responsibilities between the group, the business areas, and the companies.
The basic principle is simple: decisions should be made as close as possible to the customer and the operations. At group level, we set direction and the common framework.
We determine where we operate, how we allocate our shared capital, and targets and risk levels we work within. We're also responsible for the group structure and shared capabilities.
The business areas support, challenge, and develop the companies. They do this through active board and ownership work, by carrying out acquisitions and helping new companies become part of the group, and through ongoing operational support and follow-up.
They're also responsible for identifying opportunities for collaboration. The companies own the business and its execution.
They're responsible for the customers, the offering, and the local market. The companies are also responsible for their organizations, employees, and cultures.
They set priorities and deliver results. This is the allocation of responsibilities that we want: a clear common direction, active support from the business areas, and business responsibility close to the customer.
The principle is simple, and it remains the same: decisions should be made as close as possible to the customer and the business. That enables us to act quickly and make better decisions.
Alongside the new group structure, we are continuing to develop the Momentum model. We are moving from two growth engines to four mutually reinforcing engines: the first is the company building engine, the second is the entrepreneurship engine, the third is the acquisition engine, and the fourth is the capital engine.
Let me briefly explain the purpose of each engine. The company building engine ensures that every company has a clear plan for continuous improvement.
The entrepreneurship engine helps us to develop more skilled business builders. The acquisition engine strengthens our ability to make more of the right acquisitions.
Through the capital engine, we use our internal capital allocation model to direct capital to the strongest opportunities—the best case wins. Each engine has a clear purpose.
Together, they strengthen our companies and develop our leaders. They also help us make acquisitions and capital allocation decisions without adding group overhead.
By working with repeatable processes, clear frameworks, and continuous exchange of experience, we build structural capital across the group. This gives us more scalable platforms for profitable growth and a clear direction for continuous improvement.
At the same time, we preserve what is fundamental to our model: decentralized responsibility for customers, operations, and earnings. That concludes today's presentation.
Thank you for your time and for your interest in Momentum Group. The interim report, this presentation, and the Q&A are available on our website.
If you have any further questions or specific requests, please feel free to contact our investor relations team by email or phone. Thank you very much.
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