Swiss-listed shares of LEM plunge 15% as group warns of tariff-fueled uncertainty

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Investing.com - Shares of LEM Holding SA (SIX:LEHN) slumped by more than 15% on Tuesday after the electric measurement group posted a lower-than-anticipated first-quarter earnings margin and warned of tariff-driven uncertainty around its financial outlook.

The Switzerland-based firm, which offers transducers for measuring electrical parameters like current and voltage, posted earnings before interest and tax margin of 5.5% for the period, below consensus estimates of 8.4%.

LEM's products are used in the industrial, traction, automation and automotive markets, with the firm's plants spread across the world in Switzerland, China, Japan and Bulgaria.

Gross income margins decreased to 38.2% from 44.4% due to price pressures in China and the "under-absorption" of production fixed costs resulting from weak volumes, LEM said. Not all increased expenses linked to recent sweeping U.S. tariffs were passed on to customers, it added.

Sales also declined by 6.5% year-over-year to CHF 75.7 million, as demand was dented by depreciation in the Chinese yuan.

"The first quarter was marked by a continued high level of uncertainty in the market and continued subdued demand which led our customers to hold back investment decisions," said CEO Frank Rehfeld in a statement. "This challenging environment was further compounded by the strengthening of the Swiss franc against the currencies in all our major markets which had a noticeable impact on our top line."

The figures overshadowed otherwise healthy bookings, which jumped by 19% versus a year ago to CHF 89.1 million thanks to solid increases in the Europe, Middle Ease and Africa region, as well as China.

LEM also flagged that, despite order improvements across all of its divisions besides renewable energies, it "does not expect in the foreseeable future a general change in the business development."

"Uncertainties remain regarding the global impact of U.S. tariff policy and significant currency fluctuations," LEM said.