Air Liquide's half-year results meet estimates, confirms margin guidance
"In a market environment that remains uncertain, the Group relies more than ever on diversified growth engines, particularly in the electronics and energy transition sectors," CEO François Jackow said in a statement.
The company, which supplies gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen to factories and hospitals, said its revenue rose 1.8% on a comparable basis to 13.72 billion euros ($15.89 billion) in the January-June period.
Its half-year operating margin rose by 100 basis points (bps), or 1 percentage point, to 19.9% on a reported basis that excluded the energy impact.
Analysts polled by Vara Research were expecting a revenue of 13.73 billion euros and an operating margin of 20.2% on average.
Air Liquide said it expected to further raise its operating margin and deliver recurring net profit growth at constant exchange rates in 2025, as it aims to improve the operating margin by 200 bps over the two years to the end of 2026.
($1 = 0.8635 euros)
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