Holmen’s year-end report 2018
| Quarter | Full year | ||||
| SEKm | 4-18 | 3-18 | 4-17 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Net sales | 3 948 | 3 844 | 3 908 | 16 055 | 16 133 |
| Operating profit excl. items affecting comparability | 613 | 591 | 421 | 2 476 | 2 166 |
| Operating profit | 519 | 591 | 421 | 2 382 | 2 166 |
| Profit after tax | 543 | 458 | 332 | 2 268 | 1 668 |
| Earnings per share, SEK | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 13.5 | 9.9 |
| Operating margin, %* | 15.5 | 15.4 | 10.8 | 15.4 | 13.4 |
| Return on capital employed, %* | 9.4 | 9.2 | 6.7 | 9.7 | 8.7 |
| Return on equity, % | 9.4 | 8.1 | 6.1 | 10.1 | 7.8 |
| Cash flow before investments and working capital | 671 | 581 | 588 | 2 500 | 2 310 |
| Debt/equity ratio | 0.12 | 0.13 | 0.13 | 0.12 | 0.13 |
*Excluding an item affecting comparability of SEK -94 million in the fourth quarter of 2018
- Operating profit excluding items affecting comparability for 2018 increased by SEK 310 million to SEK 2 476 million as a result of higher profits from forests and wood products. In the fourth quarter of 2018, SEK 94 million was recognised as an item affecting comparability regarding costs for a savings programme in paperboard. Operating profit including items affecting comparability amounted to SEK 2 382 million (2 166).
- Compared with the third quarter, operating profit excluding items affecting comparability increased by SEK 22 million to SEK 613 million.
- Profit after tax for 2018 was SEK 2 268 million (1 668), which corresponds to earnings per share of SEK 13.5 (9.9).
- Return on capital employed increased to 9.7 per cent (8.7).
- The Board proposes a dividend of SEK 6.75 (6.50) per share.
For further information please contact:
Henrik Sjölund, President and CEO, tel. +46 8 666 21 05
Anders Jernhall, Executive Vice President and CFO, tel. +46 8 666 21 22
Stina Sandell, Senior Vice President Sustainability and Communications, tel. +46 73 986 51 12
This information is information that Holmen AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, on Thursday 31 January 2019 at 12.15.
Holmen’s business concept is to own and add value to the forest. The forest holdings form the basis of the business – an ecocycle in which the raw material grows and is refined into everything from wood for climate-smart building to renewable packaging, magazines and books. The forest is managed to provide a good annual return and stable value growth while our production operations are run with a focus on profitability and greater value added. In 2018 Holmen’s net sales were just over SEK 16 billion and the group has approx. 3 000 employees. Holmen’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Large Cap. For more information, visit holmen.com.