Stock Markets March 12, 2026

Kardex posts robust H2 2025 order growth, mixed sales and profit outcomes

Second-half orders surge while net income is hit by a one-off impairment; medium-term targets reiterated but 2026 guidance left unspecified

By Maya Rios
Kardex posts robust H2 2025 order growth, mixed sales and profit outcomes

Kardex reported a strong second half for 2025 with group order intake rising to €528 million, beating consensus. Sales increased modestly in H2 while net income was weighed down by a CHF39 million impairment tied to a previous loan. The company reaffirmed its medium-term margin ambitions but did not provide explicit targets for fiscal 2026.

Key Points

  • Group order intake in H2 2025 rose to €528 million, a 29% year-over-year increase and ahead of consensus.
  • H2 group sales were €435 million (up 3% year-over-year reported) but missed the consensus sales estimate; H2 EBIT margin was 12.0%, above consensus.
  • Net income for H2 was CHF6 million after a CHF39 million impairment linked to a prior loan to Rocket Solution; full-year 2025 sales grew 8% with a group EBIT margin of 11.9% and a proposed dividend of CHF6.00.

Kardex released its full-year 2025 results on Thursday, reporting a notable increase in order intake during the second half of the year alongside mixed operational and profitability metrics.

Orders and sales - second half

Group order intake for H2 reached €528 million, up 29% year-over-year on a reported basis, outperforming the consensus expectation of €444 million. Group sales for the same period were €435 million, representing a 3% year-over-year increase on a reported basis, but below the consensus sales estimate of €458 million.

Profitability and net result

The company recorded an EBIT margin of 12.0% in the second half, ahead of the consensus forecast of 11.4%. Net income for H2 was CHF6 million, significantly under consensus expectations of CHF40 million. The shortfall was driven by a CHF39 million impairment connected to a prior loan to Rocket Solution, which has since been acquired.

Full year and shareholder return

For the full year 2025, Kardex reported reported sales growth of 8% and a group EBIT margin of 11.9%. The company proposed a dividend per share of CHF6.00, above the consensus expectation of CHF5.85.

Performance by segment

In the Automated Products segment, second-half orders totaled €267 million, an increase of 6% year-over-year on a reported basis. Revenues in that segment were €290 million for H2, a 1% decline year-over-year on a reported basis, with the company citing weakness in demand in its US business as a contributing factor. The Automated Products segment posted an H2 EBIT margin of 16.1%, which sits inside the company’s stated long-term guidance range of 14-17%.

The Standardized Systems segment posted second-half orders of €262 million, up 66% year-over-year on a reported basis, with AS Solutions orders expanding 59%. Sales for the segment reached €145 million in H2, an 11% year-over-year increase on a reported basis. The segment’s second-half EBIT margin was 5.8%, within the long-term guidance range of 5-8%.

Outlook commentary

Kardex did not provide discrete fiscal year 2026 targets. The company indicated, however, that its medium-term margin targets remain applicable for 2026. Those medium-term targets include sales of €1.5 billion for fiscal years 2029-2031 and an EBIT margin range of 10-14%.


Note: The company’s figures above are presented on a reported basis unless otherwise stated.

Risks

  • One-off impairment risk - a CHF39 million impairment tied to a previous loan materially reduced H2 net income, illustrating exposure to credit or investment recoverability issues that can affect reported profits; this impacts corporate earnings and investor returns.
  • Demand concentration risk - weakness in the US business weighed on Automated Products revenues, indicating regional demand variability that could affect segment sales and margins; this impacts industrial automation and logistics equipment demand.
  • Near-term guidance uncertainty - the company did not issue specific fiscal 2026 targets, leaving short-term revenue and margin visibility limited even though medium-term goals were reiterated; this creates planning uncertainty for investors and industry stakeholders.

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