Carl Zeiss Meditec records significant increase in revenue and raises annual targets

Jena/Germany | Carl Zeiss Meditec AG

Carl Zeiss Meditec generated revenue of €1,198.2m in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020/21 (prior year: €967.9m), growing by +23.8% (adjusted for currency effects: +27.6%). Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) increased overproportionally, to €282.8m (prior year: €111.9m). The EBIT margin was 23.6% (prior year: 11.6%).

Dr. Ludwin Monz, President and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG: “Our business is making an increasingly perceptible recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the renewed strong growth in recurring revenue, we also achieved further progress in our equipment business.”

Revenue in the strategic business unit (SBU) Ophthalmic Devices increased by +30.2% in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020/21 (adjusted for currency effects: +33.9%), to €923.4m (prior year: €709.1m). In particular the business with recurring revenue from consumables, implants and services made a significant contribution to this growth. The recovery of revenue continued in the strategic business unit Microsurgery; there was an acceleration in the third quarter in particular. Revenue increased by +6.2% in the first nine months (adjusted for currency effects: +10.4%), to €274.8m (prior year: €258.7m).

Revenue in the EMEA¹ region increased by +18.0% (adjusted for currency effects: +19.8%), to €317.3m (prior year: €268.8m). Once again, there was a positive trend in the markets of Germany, France and Southern Europe, and the UK.

Revenue in the Americas region increased by a further +12.3%, to €305.9m, due to the further acceleration in the US business (prior year: €272.3m) – adjusted for currency effects, revenue increased by +21.0%.

Once again, the APAC² region made the strongest contribution to growth. Revenue increased by 34.7% (adjusted for currency effects: +36.7%) to €575.0m (prior year: €426.8m). China and South Korea had the highest growth rates.

The operating result (earnings before interest and taxes: EBIT) increased disproportionately in the first nine months of fiscal year 2020/21, to €282.8m (prior year: €111.9m). This was driven in particular by a favorable product mix and a high proportion of recurring revenue, as well as low selling and marketing expenses. The EBIT margin increased to 23.6% (prior year: 11.6%). Adjusted for special effects, this resulted in an increase to 23.9% (prior year: 12.1%). Earnings per share increased to €2.04 (prior year: €0.77).

Due to the positive development of business, the Company has raised its targets for the currentfiscal year 2020/21. Revenue is expected to exceed the previous target of around €1.6bn (prior year: €1,335.5bn). The EBIT margin is expected to significantly exceed the previous target of around 20% in fiscal year 2020/21 (prior year: 13.3%), bolstered to a great extent by the current low selling and marketing expenses.