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Investing.com -- Shares of Croda International (LON:CRDA) fell more than 4% on Tuesday after the company reported weaker cash flow and rising debt in its first-half 2025 results, despite posting profit in line with analyst expectations and maintaining full-year guidance.
The specialty chemicals company reported adjusted profit before tax of £138 million for the first half of 2025, slightly above Jefferies’ estimate of £136 million and the consensus forecast of £137 million.
Group sales for the second quarter were £414 million, matching Jefferies’ forecast and just below the £415 million consensus, reflecting 6% year-over-year growth at constant currency.
Adjusted EBIT for the first half was £147 million, down 1% from the consensus estimate of £149 million.
However, EBIT margins improved by 50 basis points compared to the prior year period.
Croda reiterated its full-year 2025 constant currency adjusted PBT guidance of £265 million to £295 million.
After accounting for an updated foreign exchange headwind of approximately £9.5 million, the revised PBT range stands at £255 million to £285 million.
This compares with Jefferies’ forecast of £271 million and a consensus estimate of £272 million.
“With 1H25 Adj PBT tracking marginally ahead of expectations, yet an uncertain macro backdrop persists, we foresee limited net changes to FY25 Adj PBT Cons of £273.5m,” said analysts at Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) in a note.
The company announced an additional £60 million in cost savings, bringing its total planned efficiency program to £100 million by the end of 2027.
By division, Life Sciences outperformed expectations, while Consumer Care fell slightly below forecasts.
Consumer Care’s second-quarter growth was 30 basis points ahead of consensus.
First-half adjusted EBIT for Consumer Care was £86 million, 6% below Jefferies’ estimate of £91 million and 2% below the consensus of £88 million.
Life Sciences reported adjusted EBIT of £56 million, 4% above Jefferies’ estimate and 2% above consensus.
EBIT margins in the division rose by 320 basis points year-over-year. PTIC/Industrial Specialties recorded adjusted EBIT of £5 million, ahead of Jefferies’ estimate of £4 million and slightly below the £6 million consensus.
Operating cash flow for the first half was £96.5 million, down sharply from £194.5 million a year earlier, primarily due to working capital outflows.
Free cash flow declined to £34.2 million from £122.7 million. Net debt rose to £580 million, equivalent to 1.5 times EBITDA.