Vestas Adjusts Forecast 2019

Aarhus, Denmark - In the second quarter of 2019, Vestas generated revenue of EUR 2,121m – a decrease of 6 percent compared to the year-earlier period. EBIT before special items decreased by EUR 131m to EUR 128m.

The EBIT margin was 6.0 percent compared to 11.5 percent in the second quarter of 2018 and free cash flow* amounted to EUR (75)m compared to EUR (173)m in the second quarter of 2018. The intake of firm and unconditional wind turbine orders amounted to 5,696 MW in the second quarter of 2019.

The value of the wind turbine order backlog amounted to EUR 15.9bn as at 30 June 2019. In addition to the wind turbine order backlog, Vestas had service agreements with expected contractual future revenue of EUR 15.6bn at the end of June 2019. Thus, the value of the combined backlog of wind turbine orders and service agreements stood at EUR 31.5bn – an increase of EUR 8.5bn compared to the year-earlier period.

Vestas narrows the 2019 guidance on revenue to range between EUR 11.0bn and 12.25bn (compared to previously EUR 10.75bn-12.25bn), and on EBIT margin before special items to 8-9 percent (compared to previously 8-10 percent).

Group President & CEO Henrik Andersen said: "Prices remained stable in the quarter, but further increases in tariffs, raw material prices and transport costs, continue to increase execution costs, causing our gross margin to decline compared to the same period last year. To finish the year as strongly as possible and prepare for high activity levels in 2020, we remain focused on executing our strategy and delivering an extraordinarily busy second half of 2019.”

Source: IWR Online, 19 Aug 2019