Jenoptik AG posted preliminary full-year figures for 2025 that point to a modest contraction in both top-line and operating profitability, while flagging a path back to growth in 2026.
The German technology group indicated preliminary full-year sales of approximately 1.05 billion, representing a 6% decline compared with the prior year. Preliminary full-year EBITDA came in at roughly 192 million, down 13% year-over-year and described by the company as broadly in line with expectations.
On a quarterly basis, the implied fourth-quarter EBITDA margin was around 20.3%, effectively unchanged from the same quarter a year earlier. However, order intake softened late in the year. Jenoptik reported full-year orders of "nearly 1bn," translating to an annual book-to-bill of 0.95x. The fourth-quarter book-to-bill ratio was reported at 0.75x, down from 0.82x in the year-ago quarter.
Despite the weaker order flow in Q4, management signalled optimism about the market outlook. The company said demand had improved at the start of the new year and highlighted expectations for a "fundamentally positive development" in its semiconductor-related activities. Management anticipates a return to revenue growth and higher margins in 2026.
Jenoptik specifically pointed to large-scale investment programs in data centers as a factor that has materially enhanced visibility for capital expenditure on semiconductor equipment. The company expects that backdrop to support growth in sales and earnings across all of its platforms in 2026.
Investors will receive the group's formal 2026 outlook when Jenoptik publishes its audited full-year results on March 25, at which point the company said it will provide initial guidance. Current consensus estimates referenced by the company envision roughly 6% top-line growth for 2026 and an estimated 60 basis point improvement in the EBITDA margin.
For market participants focused on semiconductor equipment suppliers and industrial technology groups, Jenoptik's preliminary results underline the sensitivity of near-term performance to order timing, while management's messaging ties the recovery to improved visibility on capex from large data center projects.