WERDOHL (dpa-AFX) - German transport services firm Vossloh Group (VOSSF.PK) reported Thursday that its first-quarter income increased to 4.7 million euros from 3.8 million euros a year ago. Earnings per share, meanwhile, fell to 0.18 euros from 0.21 euros last year.
Consolidated EBIT significantly improved to 7.1 million euros from previous year's 2 million euros, thanks especially to a project mix with higher margins in the Fastening Systems business unit. The EBIT margin rose to 3.1 percent from 1.0 percent last year.
Revenues grew 18.2 percent to 224.3 million euros from previous year's 189.8 million euros, excluding the Electrical Systems business unit, which has since been disposed of. Revenue growth mainly reflected the acquisition of Vossloh Tie Technologies in the USA.
Orders received in the Group decreased to 210.8 million euros from 249.3 million euros last year, while the order backlog increased to 750.9 million euros as of March 31 from 642.2 million euros last year.
Looking ahead, the company continues to expect fiscal 2017 sales between 1.0 billion euros and 1.1 billion euros. The sales growth will primarily be driven by the inclusion of Vossloh Tie Technologies and increasing sales revenues in the Transportation division.
The Executive Board estimates that the company will reach an EBIT margin between 5.5 percent and 6.0 percent.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX