Half Year 2026 SAF-Holland SE Earnings Call
Speaker #1: I conference call on our Q2 2026 results. Let me start with a brief overview of our Q2 performance on page 3. Overall, we delivered another solid quarter, which supports the confirmation of our outlook for fiscal year 2026.
Speaker #1: Sales increased to 4504 million EUR, supported by an organic growth of 3.8%, and the continued recovery and stabilization across our key OEE markets. This positive top-line development was also reflected in our profitability.
Speaker #1: Adjusted EBIT margin increased to 9.6% from 9.1% a year ago, while adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 13.2%. At the same time, we continue to generate a strong cash flow, operating free cash flow increased to 21 million EUR, driven by further improvements in networking capital management.
Speaker #1: This strong cash generation also supported the solid balance sheet, with an unchanged leverage at 2.3x. Despite the dividend payment and the ongoing execution of our share buyback program, altogether our Q2 performance once again demonstrates the strengths of SF Holland's business model combining organic growth, improving profitability, and a strong cash generation.
Speaker #1: On page 4, you can see the development of group sales and the adjusted EBIT development. We delivered a solid Q2 with group sales increasing by 2.6% year over year to now 454 million EUR, , organic growth reached 3.8%, supported by continued strengths in the EMEA trailer OEE business, and strong momentum in APAC.
Speaker #1: At the same time, our after-market business remained resilient, and continued to provide a robust contribution to the overall top-line. Looking at the first half of 2026, sales increased by 1.6% year over year, to 905.7 million EUR, and organic growth was even stronger at 4.7%, although a large portion of this was offset by adverse currency effects.
Speaker #1: Turning to profitability, adjusted EBIT increased by around 8% to 43.4 million EUR in the Q2, resulting in a margin improvement from 9.1% to now 9.6%.
Speaker #1: The performance was driven by higher volumes and benefited from our ongoing focus on operational excellence, productivity improvements, and cost discipline. Despite an unfavorable regional mix effect, in the first half of the year profitability remained resilient.
Speaker #1: Adjusted EBIT for H1 increased to 85.9 million EUR, while the adjusted EBIT margin improved to 9.5% from 9.3% a year ago. So overall, these results once again demonstrate the resilience of our business model.
Speaker #1: Moving on to the sales split by region and customer category on page 5, please. Starting with EMEA, we continue to benefit from a solid trailer demand and a robust after-market business.
Speaker #1: As a result, the region slightly increased its contribution to group sales to around 51%. In North America, market conditions remained mixed. A positive organic growth in the truck segment, supported by initial pre-buy effects ahead of the EPA 27 legislation, helped balance a more moderate trailer market environment.
Speaker #1: Moreover, APAC delivered again the strongest growth among all regions, supported by solid demand, especially in India and Australia. Despite unfavorable currency effects, the region increased its share of group sales to more than 12%.
Speaker #1: Looking at the performance by customer segment, trailer OEE sales remained the largest category, accounting for around 49% of group sales, and growth was mainly driven by continued strong demand in EMEA and APAC.
Speaker #1: Truck OEE sales represented approx 12% of group sales, and benefited from the first recovery effects in the North American truck market. Consequently, OEE sales increased by around 6% year over year, and amounted to 276 million EUR in the Q2.
Speaker #1: Once again, the after-market business demonstrated its resilience and strategic importance, contributing a solid 39% of group sales despite adverse FX effects. Now let's turn to the development of the EMEA region on page 6.
Speaker #1: EMEA continued to perform well in the Q2, benefiting from solid momentum in the European trailer market and a resilient after-market business. As a result, sales in the region increased by 3.6% year over year.
Speaker #1: Looking at the first half, organic growth reached 5.8%, broadly in line with the market development, and underlining our strong market position in the region.
Speaker #1: On the profitability side, earnings benefited from the higher business volume, as well as the first contributions from our efficiency initiatives in indirect area. As a result, the adjusted EBIT margin improved to 8.0%.
Speaker #1: For the first 6 months of 2026, adjusted EBIT increased to 37.6 million EUR, with the adjusted EBIT margin also reaching 8%. Overall, EMEA maintained its positive momentum in the Q2, combining solid growth with the further improvement in earnings quality.
Speaker #1: Turning to the Americas region on page 7, please. In North America, market conditions remained challenging overall. Although we started to see more encouraging signs of improvement during the Q2.
Speaker #1: This was visible in the truck market, where demand benefited from initial pre-buy activity ahead of the upcoming EPA 27 legislation. At the same time, our after-market business demonstrated its resilience, and continued to provide a stable contribution to the region's performance.
Speaker #1: Against this, sales in the Americas remained only slightly below the prior year level. On an organic basis, Q2 sales were broadly stable, while currency effects reduced top-line by 1.4% year over year.
Speaker #1: And for the first 6 months, sales were organically 1.3% below the previous year. On the profitability side, our ongoing focus on efficiency and cost discipline continued to pay off, and measures implemented across the organization helped offset the impact of lower volumes.
Speaker #1: As a result, adjusted EBIT increased to 18.6 million EUR in the Q2. The adjusted EBIT margin improved to 11.1% compared to 10.2% in the prior year Q2, which had also been impacted by temporary tariff-related costs.
Speaker #1: Looking at the first half of the year, profitability remained resilient, with the adjusted EBIT margin improving slightly to 10.9%. Overall, the Americas region once again demonstrated its resilience, maintaining a solid double-digit margin despite still challenging market environment.
Speaker #1: Let's turn to the APAC region on page 8. Our APAC region continued to be a strong growth driver in the Q2. We saw solid demand across the region, especially in India and Australia, which resulted in an organic growth of more than 18%.
Speaker #1: However, unfavorable FX effects remained a headwind, and negatively impacted reported sales by 5.8%. Compared to the strong Q1, sales were slightly lower due to usual seasonality, and a somewhat more cautious investment behavior among certain fleet operators.
Speaker #1: Profitability also developed positively. Higher sales volumes improved operating leverage and a stronger contribution from China, supported earnings growth. At the same time, our continued focus on cost discipline helped further improve earnings quality across the region.
Speaker #1: So overall, APAC delivered another strong performance combining double-digit organic growth with improved profitability and continued operational momentum. Having said this, I hand over to Frank, who will take you through the key financials for the Q2 and the first half of 2026.
Speaker #2: Okay, thank you, Alex. And hello to everybody on the line. Let me start with a short overview on the EBIT to adjusted EBIT reconciliation for the group on page 10.
Speaker #2: In the Q2 of 2026, reported EBIT increased by 12.1% year over year, to 38.7 million EUR, driven by higher sales and improved profitability. As usual, depreciation and amortization from purchase price allocations were adjusted, and declined compared to the prior year due to expiring amortization from the IMS acquisition.
Speaker #2: Our adjustments remained very limited and included a positive one-time adjustment of provisions related to the efficiency program in the indirect area. As a result, adjusted EBIT increased to 43.4 million EUR, corresponding to an adjusted EBIT margin of 9.6%.
Speaker #2: As such, the adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 13.2% and reflects our continued cost discipline and operational efficiency. Looking at the first half of 2026, adjusted EBIT increased to 85.9 million EUR, while the adjusted EBIT margin improved to 9.5%.
Speaker #2: Moving on to page 11, there you see the bridge from EBIT to basic earnings per share. As mentioned earlier, EBIT increased to 38.7 million EUR in the Q2, driven by higher sales and improved profitability.
Speaker #2: At the same time, the finance result improved significantly to -5.7 million EUR. Mainly reflecting lower unrealized FX effects, as well as reduced interest. Expenses.
Speaker #2: The effective tax rate came in at 34.5%, while it is still effected by non-capitalized deferred tax assets relating to interest and loss carry forward, we continue to expect a tax rate of around 35% for the full year.
Speaker #2: Overall, the combination of higher profitability and improved finance result led to a strong increase in earnings. Basic earnings per shares doubled year over year to 48 EUR, while adjusted EPS increased to 63 EUR.
Speaker #2: For the first half as a whole, basic earnings per share amounted 93 EUR, and adjusted earnings per share to 1.24 EUR, clearly demonstrating the progress we have made in terms of profitability and earnings quality.
Speaker #2: Moving to page 12, where you can see the development of the equity ratio. Equity increased by 3.1% to 507 million EUR, compared to year-end, mainly supported by the positive net profit in the first half year.
Speaker #2: At the same time, total assets increased by 4.8%, primarily reflecting the seasonal build-up in working capital. In addition, equity was impacted by the dividend payment, completed during the Q2, as well as our ongoing share buyback program.
Speaker #2: As a result, equity ratio stood at 29.1% at the end of June 2026, only slightly below the year-end 2025 level. Overall, our balance sheet remains very solid, underlining the continued strength of our financial position.
Speaker #2: Turning to page 13, I would like to speak about networking capital development. Networking capital increased compared to year-end 2025, mainly reflecting the usual seasonal inventory build-up.
Speaker #2: In addition, we deliberately built inventory buffers ahead of the successful SAP S/4HANA go-live at our Haldex facilities in the Americas in July. Trade receivables were somewhat higher due to a change in customer mix, with longer payment terms, while trade payables developed favorably and offset a large part of this effect.
Speaker #2: As a result, networking capital ratio increased to 7.6% of sales from 16.8% at year-end. At the same time, we further improved the ratio compared to June last year, reducing it from 18.2% to 17.6%, mainly thanks to more efficient inventory management and improved payment terms.
Speaker #2: Overall, networking capital remained well within our target range. And now let me address the cash flow development on page 14. We delivered a very strong performance in the first half of 2026, with operating cash flow increasing to 86.6 million EUR, compared to 30.5 million EUR in the prior year period.
Speaker #2: The main driver was a significantly lower cash outflow from networking capital, reflecting the improvements and measures I discussed earlier. Tax payments remained broadly stable, while the other cash flow item benefited mainly from favorable valuation effects in other assets, as well from positive changes related to deferred tax assets.
Speaker #2: Investments in property planned and equipment, as well as intangible assets, amounted to 20.8 million EUR, or to 2.3% of group sales, and were fully in line with our full-year guidance.
Speaker #2: Our investments remained focused on automation and modernization projects, the ongoing SAP S/4HANA implementation, and selected production equipment investments, supporting our drive 2030 strategy. These investments also included the acquisition of real estate related to our former Italian acquisitions, and the construction of our new facility in Nashik, which is scheduled to become operational next year.
Speaker #2: As a result, operating free cash flow increased significantly to 65.8 million EUR in the first half of 2026, demonstrating the group's strong cash generation capabilities.
Speaker #2: Moving on to an overview of the leverage development on page 15. At the end of June 2026, the net debt to EBITDA ratio remained stable at 2.3 times, compared to year-end 2025, despite cash outflows of 28.8 million EUR for the dividend payment and 13.3 million EUR for our ongoing share buyback program.
Speaker #2: Excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities, leverage would have stood at 2 times. And now I hand back to Alex.
Speaker #1: Yeah, thank you, Frank. I'm on page 17, showing the fiscal year 2026 forecast for the trailer and truck markets. Overall, our market assumptions remain largely unchanged, and the trends we have seen in the first half continue to support our outlook for 2026.
Speaker #1: In Europe, we have slightly upgraded our expectations for the trailer market, and now expect growth of between plus 5 and plus 10%, reflecting the ongoing solid demand momentum.
Speaker #1: In North America, production levels remained relatively low during the Q2. However, recent order activity improving freight rates and crater regulatory clarity around EPA 27 reinforced our expectation for a stronger Q2.
Speaker #1: Therefore, our outlook remains unchanged, with class 8 truck productions expected to grow by 0% to 10% plus. And trailer production expects to remain broadly stable.
Speaker #1: In APAC, our overall assumptions are also largely unchanged, following the solid start to the year we have become slightly more optimistic on the Chinese trailer market, and now expect growth in a range of plus 5 to plus 10%.
Speaker #1: Overall, the expectations provide further confidence in our outlook for 2026. Having said that, let me briefly come to our guidance for fiscal year 2026 on page 18.
Speaker #1: As discussed in the market outlook, we continue to expect solid demand in EMEA and APAC, while North America is expected to gain momentum as we move through the Q2 of the year.
Speaker #1: Building on this, profitability will continue to be influenced by the overall volume development, as well as the business mix. At the same time, the resilience of our aftermarket business remains an important support for margins and earnings quality.
Speaker #1: In addition, the overall economic environment could continue to be shaped by geopolitical uncertainties, and increased volatility in the energy and commodities market, this could result in pressures on the procurement side.
Speaker #1: However, we expect to be able to largely offset the resulting pressures through pricing measures and ongoing efficiency and productivity gains. As we have done in the past.
Speaker #1: In addition, our efficiency initiatives continue to progress according to plan. The measures implemented across admin and sales functions are expected to generate increasing benefits over time, and help offset general wage inflation.
Speaker #1: Overall, this gives us confidence in our current outlook for the year. So let me briefly summarize the key takeaways on page 19. Looking back at the first half, we have continued to execute on the priorities we set at the beginning of the year, growing the business, improving profitability, and generating strong cash flow.
Speaker #1: The progress we have made across all three regions reflects the resilience of our business model, the strength of our aftermarket activities, and the commitment of our teams around the world.
Speaker #1: With positive momentum in our key markets and a solid financial foundation, we enter the Q2 of the year with confidence and remain firmly on track to deliver our objectives for 2026.
Speaker #1: Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes the presentation. We can now start with your questions, so operator, the first question, please.
Speaker #2: We will now begin the question and answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask a question may press star and one on their telephone. You will hear a tone to confirm that you have entered the queue.
Speaker #2: If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and then two. Questioners on the phone are requested to disable the loudspeaker mode while asking a question.
Speaker #2: Anyone who has a question may press star one at this time. The first question comes from Holger Schmidt, DZ Bank. Please go ahead.
Speaker #3: Yeah, good morning, everyone. My first question is on the guidance. I mean, you confirmed the guidance for the current year, but you raised the marks outlook for trailers in EMEA, which is one of your largest end markets.
Speaker #3: Is it fair to assume that you now consider the upper end of the guidance range to be more feasible than the midpoint?
Speaker #1: I would take that, Mr. Schmidt. This is Alex Geiss. Well, absolutely, we confirmed the guidance. You know that our guidance has a spread of some millions, at this point of time.
Speaker #1: We already incorporated, at the beginning of our guidance, a better Q2 in the Americas, specifically in the truck market, which is also a key market for us.
Speaker #1: Now the European trailer market is getting a little bit better, not really hugely better, but a little bit better. So we continue to confirm our guidance.
Speaker #1: I would not say anything if it's the upper end of the guidance, but as you know us, we stay conservative and, at this point of time, we will not touch our guidance.
Speaker #1: So we confirm our guidance as you just have read it. And also, we have a little bit less working days in the Q2 of the year.
Speaker #1: Please don't forget that also.
Speaker #3: Yeah, well, understood. My second question is with regard to the Americas region. You reported a 7% increase in the adjusted EBIT. On more or less robust sales, was it solely based on improved efficiency, or was it also supported by any effects related to the US tariff refunds?
Speaker #1: Well, it was not only the increased productivity that was also a cornerstone of our increased profitability, we also have a very strong aftermarket business in the Americas, which are higher share than we have an aftermarket in Europe.
Speaker #1: That was also strong. Our reman business also kicked in with a good profitability for us. It was a mix of everything. So basically, it's the volume mix, it's the productivity, it's also getting more volume in our newly opened facilities, for instance, for the truck fifth wheels, in Peters Nikas, which we opened two years ago or one and a half years ago.
Speaker #1: So it's a mix of everything, I would say.
Speaker #3: Okay. And then my last question is with regard to the US trailer market. I mean, we have seen substantial improvements in monthly order data recently.
Speaker #3: And the CEO of Wabash, one of the big trailer manufacturers, noted that the current freight market recovery trends are driving trailer demand in a way that the company has not seen for 40 years.
Speaker #3: How do you think demand will develop in the future, not only in '26, but going forward? Is this the start of a new cycle in the US trailer market?
Speaker #1: Let's hope it will be. For 2026, I have to say again, it will be subdued. It's not increasing heavily. Of course, we also talked with the big trailer manufacturers, also Mr. Jägge, the CEO of Wabash, of course, we hope that it will be increasing by the end of the year.
Speaker #1: And I'm pretty sure that it will be substantially increasing in 2027. So the trailer market was really bad the last two years already. So '25, '26, also not really good.
Speaker #1: So we see a, let's say, an increasing financial interest of the fleets to also now invest in trailer equipment. Again, and I really hope that it will be increasing substantially in 2027.
Speaker #3: Sounds very good. Thanks a lot.
Speaker #1: Good.
Speaker #2: The next question comes from Yasmin Steilen, Bernberg. Please go ahead.
Speaker #4: Hello. Many thanks for taking my questions. I have two, if I may. So the first one, I guess, more for you, Alexander, on the strategy.
Speaker #4: So we have heard other truck suppliers becoming more vocal about the structural change among the truck OEMs and the shift towards EV. So what's your assumption on the speed of the electrification and the increasing importance of the Asian truck OEMs?
Speaker #4: And how is SAF positioned in terms of customer inroads to the kind of new truck OEMs and in terms of the product portfolio? Do you see any chances to increase your content per vehicle in the electrified world?
Speaker #4: That's my first question.
Speaker #1: Yeah, let me start answering the first part of your question how I see the speed of the electrification in the truck market. It's still very low.
Speaker #1: We have seen a big momentum, like four or five years ago, it went down a little bit, and we also have seen that with a lot of depreciations with the big truck manufacturers.
Speaker #1: It will come for sure. We have more trucks on the road which are EV vehicles. Specifically, also now more on the Asian world. We not only supply to all the truck manufacturers globally, our fifth wheels, but also truck suspensions, and also a big basket of our products from the Haldex world.
Speaker #1: So a lot of wilds, we are supplying slack adjusters, we are supplying. So we have a huge basket. And also in the future, we'd like to increase supplying more and more products.
Speaker #1: So to get more content throughout the whole vehicle. So we're working towards that. And also, one of the major cornerstones will be the air disc brake.
Speaker #1: We started now manufacturing truck brakes also in China. And we are succeeding now with the first orders coming from truck manufacturers from Chinese truck trucks.
Speaker #1: And this is the start. We gained some momentum in North America. With our air disc brakes being manufactured in Monterey, in Mexico, and also started supplying in Europe, coming from our Swedish facilities.
Speaker #1: And now also starting to supply to Turkey. So this is then a bigger, let's say, basket and a bigger content overall in the future.
Speaker #4: It's very helpful. And then my second question on your work in capital development. You stated that Q2 development was mainly affected by the usual seasonal build-up.
Speaker #4: Have you experienced any stress to supply chain already, or should we expect in terms of working capital some effects in the second half? Many thanks.
Speaker #3: No, Yasmin, I can take this so we have a really solid supply strategy always dual or even triple source plan, and we don't see really stress on the supply chain.
Speaker #3: There are some discussions in the market, but from our own organization, we don't see.
Speaker #4: Many thanks. All very clear, I'll step back into the line.
Speaker #1: Thank you.
Speaker #2: As a reminder, if you wish to register for a question, please press star followed by one. The next question comes from Nikolai Kemp, Deutsche Bank.
Speaker #2: Please go ahead.
Speaker #5: Yeah, good morning. It's Nikolai from Deutsche Bank. And well done for a good quarter. A couple of questions also from my side, and I will take them one by one.
Speaker #5: First, on the US market and you have mentioned both, right? That is supporting the outlook for H2. It's higher freight rate. And also with the EPA changes, a potential pre-buy effect.
Speaker #5: Do you see rather freight rates or rather the EPA emission change as an underlying driver? Because the reason could be then if you look at '27, whether there will be like yeah, a lower start to the year.
Speaker #5: In H1 and I know some OEMs are also talking about a phase in. And because I think there's still a bit of unclearity how the final details will work out.
Speaker #5: It's my first question.
Speaker #1: I will take that, hello, Nikolai. This is Alex Geist. I would say it's a mix of both. It's the increased freight rates and also the EPA.
Speaker #1: Normally, if you come with a new EPA regulation, there is a massive pre-buy effect. This slowed down. So it will not look like a hockey stick.
Speaker #1: And then by January 2027, when the truck owners didn't do the registration, we'll fall down like 30%. We don't see that. But we see a continuously increasing order intake with the truck manufacturers, now taking orders for this fourth quarter already.
Speaker #1: And we also see that in our orders, they are picking up for slack adjusters, for fifth wheels, for truck suspensions. So for everything, basically.
Speaker #1: But it will not be dropping by 30% by 2027. We see more a constant increase now for the second half of 2026. And then a continuation in 2027.
Speaker #1: As I mentioned before, we rather see then an increase, a massive increase in trailer orders. By beginning of 2027. But I would say it's a mix of everything.
Speaker #5: Okay, sounds good. And then on EMEA, I mean, I think partly answered that. There's a specific truck OEMs flagging high input cost and also higher freight costs.
Speaker #5: You said you're going to raise prices. Have you raised prices so far? Is that something that's going to happen in H2?
Speaker #1: Well, I didn't speak about the truck manufacturers in detail. Well, the thing is, we still have the Middle East conflict going on, unfortunately. This is not being solved.
Speaker #1: We all know when we fill our passenger cars up with gasoline, and we can see the record prices at the gas station. This really is a drawback for the whole industry, I have to say.
Speaker #1: You have to get more and higher diesel surcharges in Europe. We have to pay the fleets also for our output goods and our supplies for incoming goods to us.
Speaker #1: What is a little bit of a big question mark is actually all the goods being exported from India. Because at the moment, it's really hard to get sea freight containers.
Speaker #1: There is a little bit of a shortage. It's not massive, but there is a little bit of a shortage. And the sea freight rates increased.
Speaker #1: At the moment. So we are watching that. Of course, our suppliers too, at the moment, everything is still okay. But there might be yeah, let's say a moment coming that if we see increasing prices from logistics, then we of course have to also ask our customers to do that for the time being.
Speaker #1: We didn't do that. But we are ready to do that. If we have to do it. But at the moment, there is no big demand of doing that.
Speaker #1: But we are watching it very closely with our sourcing teams around the globe.
Speaker #5: Okay, and that sounds good. And just my last question, with leverage coming down in H2, anything we should keep in mind for potential M&A or do you think this year is rather focusing on lifting synergies a bit of delivering executor and shipper back and then maybe next year take another look at potential M&A targets?
Speaker #3: Yeah, I can take this, Nikolai, first of all, based on our solid operational performance leverage should be expected to come down step by step.
Speaker #3: That's the usual you see our strong performance in terms of cash flow and this is how we expect it usually also really stable and solid EBITDA generation.
Speaker #3: So without considering any M&A, it's a clear tendency to be expected. Talking about M&A, as we are explaining this in every call, we really do a strong market review and monitoring.
Speaker #3: We are discussing with a lot of companies about potential ideas but on the other hand, to be honest, as we are now in August, there is not so much time left to do to publish a big thing the next months.
Speaker #3: We and our capital allocation, we continue our share buyback program to keep the money in the company and we will let you all know if we have something to announce as soon as it's precise and clear.
Speaker #5: Understood. Thank you.
Speaker #2: Once again, for any further questions, please press star and one on your telephone. Ladies and gentlemen, there are no further questions. I would now like to turn the conference back over to CFO Frank Loren Dietz for closing remarks.
Speaker #3: Yeah, thank you. So thank you for your questions and for joining today's call. As always, our investor relations team remains available should you have any follow-up questions.
Speaker #3: Over the coming months, we will be attending various road shows and conferences, and we look forward to meeting many of you in person. We would also be delighted to welcome you at our AAA event on September 15 in Hannover.
