Henkel announces outlook for fiscal year 2020

“We expect Henkel to continue to face a challenging market environment in fiscal 2020 that is difficult to predict, particularly with regard to industrial demand. Nevertheless, we will consistently pursue our growth investments in order to sustainably strengthen the business in the long-term at a higher level than in fiscal 2019,” said Hans Van Bylen, CEO of Henkel.

This has been decided by the Management Board of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA in its meeting today. Furthermore, the Management Board approved the planning as well as the outlook for fiscal 2020.

Accordingly, for the business units Beauty Care and Laundry & Home Care, the company expects good organic sales growth, while growth in the Adhesive Technologies business unit will presumably be impacted by the uncertainty in industrial demand.

Overall, Henkel expects on Group level organic sales growth for 2020 of 0 to 2 percent. For the current fiscal year 2019, Henkel from today’s perspective expects the organic sales development to be approximately stable. 

In view of an uncertain industrial environment and investments in marketing and advertising as well as digitalization and IT expected to increase versus 2019, Henkel expects earnings to be negatively impacted in the fiscal year 2020.

Thus the adjusted* EBIT margin for 2020 is expected to reach around 15 percent compared to an expected level of approximately 16.2 percent in 2019.

From today's perspective, Henkel expects adjusted* earnings per preferred share ‏(EPS) in 2020 to decrease by a mid to high single-digit percentage at constant exchange rates compared to an expected figure of around 5.45 euros in fiscal 2019.

On the development for fiscal 2019, which is coming to an end, Hans Van Bylen said: “Despite the further weakening of economic dynamics in the course of the year, our expectations for 2019 are overall in line with the expectations of the capital market as well as our guidance for fiscal 2019.”

* Adjusted for one-time charges/gains and restructuring expenses.

This information contains forward-looking statements which are based on current estimates and assumptions made by the corporate management of Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. Statements with respect to the future are characterized by the use of words such as “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, and similar terms. Such statements are not to be understood as in any way guaranteeing that those expectations will turn out to be accurate. Future performance and results actually achieved by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA and its affiliated companies depend on a number of risks and uncertainties and may therefore differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Many of these factors are outside Henkel’s control and cannot be accurately estimated in advance, such as the future economic environment and the actions of competitors and others involved in the marketplace. Henkel neither plans nor undertakes to update any forward-looking statements. 

This document includes – in the applicable financial reporting framework not clearly defined – supplemental financial measures that are or may be alternative performance measures ‏(non-GAAP-measures). These supplemental financial measures should not be viewed in isolation or as alternatives to measures of Henkel’s net assets and financial positions or results of operations as presented in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework in its Consolidated Financial Statements. Other companies that report or describe similarly titled alternative performance measures may calculate them differently.

This document has been issued for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute an investment advice or an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities.