After a jump in sales in 2022, the consumer goods group Henkel expects a restrained development for the current year in view of persistent inflation and rising interest rates. Growth is likely to weaken compared to the previous year, as the company announced on Tuesday in Düsseldorf.
Organically, sales should increase by one to three percent. This excludes currency effects and portfolio changes. Henkel sees the adjusted return on sales at ten to twelve percent due to high costs. In view of the uncertain situation, the company assumes that adjusted earnings per preferred share will range from minus ten to plus ten percent, which on average could mean earnings at the previous year’s level.
Last year, Henkel benefited greatly from rising prices. Sales rose by 11.6 percent to 22.4 billion euros, organically the increase was 8.8 percent. However, the significantly increased costs for raw materials and logistics, for example, could not be offset. Adjusted earnings per preferred share fell by 14.5 percent to EUR 3.90. Net profit fell by 23 percent to around 1.26 billion euros. Nevertheless, Henkel intends to pay its shareholders an unchanged dividend of EUR 1.85 per preferred share.
