Air Liquide raises margin target, extends outlook to 2026

Published 21/02/2025, 08:12
© Reuters

Investing.com -- Air Liquide (EPA:AIRP), citing strong operational performance and growth prospects, has increased its mid-term margin target and extended its outlook to 2026, on Friday. 

The French company now projects a 4.6 percentage point margin improvement over five years (2022-2026), adding 2 percentage points to the target for 2025-2026.

The revised ambition follows a strong 2024 performance, with the Group Operating Income Recurring (OIR) reaching €5.39 billion, up 10.7% on a comparable basis. 

The OIR margin increased to 19.9%, up 150 basis points, while the Gas & Services segment, which represents 95% of revenue, saw an OIR margin of 21.5%, improving by 100 basis points excluding energy impacts.

Air Liquide (OTC:AIQUY) reported €27.06 billion in revenue, growing 2.6% on a comparable basis despite currency and energy price fluctuations. 

The Gas & Services segment generated €25.81 billion, up 2.7%. Regionally, Americas posted strong growth (+7.3%), while Asia-Pacific increased by 1.6% and EMEA declined by 1.1%.

Net profit (Group share) rose to €3.31 billion, with recurring net profit growing 11.5%, excluding currency effects. Earnings per share increased 7.3% to €5.74, and the company proposed a €3.30 per share dividend, a 13.7% increase.

Cash flow from operations before working capital changes reached €6.54 billion (+2.9%), while net debt stood at €9.2 billion. 

The return on capital employed (ROCE) improved to 10.3%, with recurring ROCE at 10.7%, despite higher investments.

Air Liquide made record investment decisions of €4.4 billion in 2024, with a €4.1 billion portfolio of 12-month investment opportunities. 

The company continued its structural transformation through digitalization, business service expansion, and efficiency programs.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.