Comment from the CEO During the second quarter net sales reached 177 m SEK, a 25 % increase compared to the same quarter previous year and a new sales record for HMS. Net sales were positively affected by currency fluctuations mainly against the US dollar.
First six months
Net sales for the first six months increased with 24 % reaching SEK 347 m (281), corresponding to a 13 % increase in local currencies
Operating profit for the first six months reached SEK 56 m (42), equal to a 16 % (15) operating margin
Order intake for the first half year increased with 15 % to SEK 345 m (301)
Cash flow from operating activities amounted to SEK 37 m (38)
Profit after taxes totaled SEK 37 m (28) and result per share amounted to SEK 3.26 (2.49)
Net sales for the last twelve months amounted to SEK 655 m (546) corresponding to a 20 % increase. Operating result amounted to SEK 111 m (88) corresponding to a 17 % (16) operating margin.
Second quarter
Net sales for the second quarter increased with 25 % reaching SEK 177 m (141), corresponding to a 15 % increase in local currencies
Operating result reached SEK 24 m (21) corresponding to an operating margin of 14 % (15)
Order intake during the second quarter was SEK 170 m (153)
Comment from the CEO
During the second quarter net sales reached 177 m SEK, a 25 % increase compared to the same quarter previous year and a new sales record for HMS. Net sales were positively affected by currency fluctuations mainly against the US dollar.
Europe and Asia continue to show a growth in sales numbers. At the same time the market in North America is weak mainly due to delays in customer projects and currency headwind on the export market for our US customers. All our product groups show a solid growth during the quarter. Anybus and IXXAT develop well with a healthy mix of repeat business and new customers. Netbiter growth rate continues on a good level but still below our expectations.
A continuing stable gross margin improves our operating profit but higher activity levels increase our expenses mainly within sales and marketing. Simultaneously the proportion of capitalized development costs goes down resulting in an operating margin of 14 % during the second quarter.
The final step in the integration of IXXAT Automation GmbH, which was acquired in 2013, is now completed. Sales and manufacturing are fully integrated into the HMS global organization. The Technology and Product development organization have changed its name to HMS Technology Center Ravensburg GmbH, an operation that moved into newly built premises in Ravensburg in June. The IXXAT name will live on, with an even stronger market position, as a product brand name within the HMS Group.
We are cautiously positive about the market development and we are optimistic about the conditions for a long-term growth.
Our focus remains to develop growth within our three product trademarks Anybus, Netbiter and IXXAT. We continue to balance our long-term growth strategy with a restrictive view on expenses and new resources. Long-term we consider the market for industrial data communication and remote monitoring to be interesting growth areas and we continue to focus on our motto “HMS-connecting devices”.
Halmstad 2015-07-22
Staffan Dahlström
Chief Executive Officer
HMS Networks Q2 Report 2015 (English)