Corporate | 4 November 2021 08:00


VERBUND AG: Results for quarters 1-3/2021: encouraging results due to positive energy market environment

EQS Group-News: VERBUND AG / Key word(s): Quarter Results/9 Month figures
04.11.2021 / 08:00
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The energy market environment for the development of our business continued to present a very positive picture in the reporting period. Prices for primary energy sources in particular rose sharply in quarters 1-3/2021. Below-average gas storage inventories, unfavourable weather conditions and interruptions to supply in an environment in which demand was recovering from the COVID-19 lows were driving forces behind the substantial increase in natural gas and coal prices worldwide. China, too, was asking for more liquefied natural gas (LNG). Prices for European CO 2 emission rights likewise increased significantly at the same time, thus also pushing up wholesale electricity prices in Europe, which are fuelled by primary energy prices and prices for CO 2 emission rights. Wholesale electricity prices in Europe are a key value driver of VERBUND’s business performance.

VERBUND’s share price also benefited from this positive market environment, reaching a new all-time high of €95.55 on 14 September 2021. VERBUND’s market capitalisation on this date hence amounted to around €33.2bn.

The results posted by VERBUND for quarters 1-3/2021 were very encouraging. EBITDA increased by 16.3% to €1,150.6m, while the Group result rose by 23.0% to €587.4m. The adjusted Group result increased by 20.9% to €566.2m. At 0.99, the hydro coefficient for the run-of-river power plants was 1 percentage point below the long-term average and 1 percentage point above the comparative prior-year figure. Generation from annual storage power plants fell by as much as 10.7% in quarters 1-3/2021 due to reduced turbining. Generation from hydropower thus decreased by a total of 589 GWh compared with the prior-year reporting period. However, the significant increase in short-term wholesale electricity prices gave a boost to earnings – unlike futures market prices, which declined in the period under review. Consequently, the average sales price obtained for our own generation from hydropower rose by €7.4/MWh to €51.3/MWh. The full consolidation of Gas Connect Austria GmbH also resulted in a positive contribution to earnings (full consolidation as at 31 May 2021).

Forecast for 2021
Based on expectations of average own generation from hydropower and wind power in quarter 4/2021 and the opportunities and risks identified, VERBUND currently expects EBITDA of between around €1,490m and €1,590m and a Group result of between around €740m and €810m in financial year 2021. VERBUND’s planned payout ratio for 2021 is between 45% and 55% of the Group result of between around €720m and €790m, after adjustment for non-recurring effects.

KPIs
Unit Q1-3/2020 Q1-3/2021 Change
Revenue €m 2,522.7 1,790.6 -29.0%
EBITDA €m 989.5 1,150.6 16.3%
Operating result €m 692.9 843.6 21.8%
Group result €m 477.7 587.4 23.0%
Earnings per share 1.38 1.69 23.0%
EBIT margin % 27.5 47.1
EBITDA margin % 39.2 64.3
Cash flow from operating activities €m 852.3 510.6 -40.1%
Free cash flow after dividends €m 135.8 -595.8
Performance of VERBUND shares % 4.3 25.6
Gearing % 29.7 41.9


Additional information as well as the Interim Report for quarters 1-3/2021 is available at www.verbund.com > Investor Relations > Latest financial results.

Contact:
Andreas Wollein
Head of Group Finance and Investor Relations
T.: +43 (0)5 03 13 – 52604
F.: +43 (0)5 03 13 – 52694
mailto:investor-relations@verbund.com


04.11.2021 This Corporate News was distributed by EQS Group AG. www.eqs.com


Language: English
Company: VERBUND AG
Am Hof 6A
1010 Wien
Austria
Phone: 0043-1-53113-52604
Fax: 0043-1-53113-52694
E-mail: investor-relations@verbund.com
Internet: www.verbund.com
ISIN: AT0000746409
WKN: 877738
Indices: ATX
Listed: Foreign Exchange(s) Vienna Stock Exchange (Official Market)
EQS News ID: 1246081

End of News EQS Group News Service

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