Zeiss Report Double-Digit Growth In First Half of Fiscal Year
The ZEISS Group’s stable, double-digit growth continued across all four ZEISS segments in the first half of fiscal year 2022/23 (ended 31 March 2023). Half-year revenue reached 4,836 million euros (up 18% on prior year) – at 917 million euros, earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) was also above the level of the prior year (up 181 million euros on prior year). Expenditure on research and development increased again and reached 14.5% (of revenue), and the number of employees increased by 6% to 41,259 globally.
“We are continuing the ZEISS Group’s dynamic growth from the previous year in the first half of 2022/23,” said Dr. Karl Lamprecht, President and CEO of ZEISS. “Our substantial expenditure on research and development and our investments in global infrastructure are important elements of our long-term growth strategy and underpin the company’s positive development.”
All four ZEISS segments contributed to the growth in the first half of fiscal year 2022/23. The on-going challenging geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions are having a varying impact on the strategic business units. The importance of resilient and diversified supply chains continues to grow.
In the first half of this fiscal year, the direct-to-market segments recorded a positive development in orders which exceeded the previous year’s. This is due to the continuing high demand for ZEISS products and solutions. The Medical Technology segment achieved very good half-year revenue, with the two strategic business units, Microsurgery and Ophthalmology, contributing to this growth.
Industrial Quality & Research Segment Grows 8%
The Industrial Quality & Research segment also continued its good growth dynamic in the first two quarters of the current fiscal year with an 8& revenue growth, adjusted down to 7% after taking currency effects into consideration. The Industrial Quality Solutions and Research Microscopy Solutions strategic business units both contributed to this.
The Consumer Markets segment generated solid growth in revenue in the first half of 2022/23, with a slightly improved, although challenging, market situation. Despite the current slowdown in the semiconductor market, the high demand for the products of the Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology segment remains unchanged and has a significant impact on the strong growth in revenue in this area.
The regions contributed to the continued growth trajectory to varying degrees. The EMEA region improved its growth in revenue, and the AMERICAS and APAC regions also continued their growth in revenue.
The expenditure for research and development amounted to 14.5% of revenue (702 million euros) in the first half of 2022/23. This is a new high. The company’s equity increased to 7,460 million euros (30 September 2022: 7,173 million euros), and the equity ratio was 56%. Investments in property, plant and equipment totaled 569 million euros.
“The half-year results also demonstrate that ZEISS is in a very stable and financially strong position, while continuing to invest heavily in the future ‒ this includes increasing capacities, such as building up infrastructure and personnel,” said Dr. Christian Müller, CFO of Carl Zeiss AG.
At the end of this first half year, the ZEISS workforce exceeded 41,259 employees (as of 31 March 2023), up 6% on the start of the fiscal year and totaling over 40,000 globally for the first time.
Outlook
Due to the uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic environment, it remains difficult to assess how the global economic situation will unfold. “If the markets remain stable, we assume that growth will also continue in all four ZEISS segments in the second half of the fiscal year. This growth is also reflected in our personnel requirements, where, for example, we are currently looking to fill around 2,000 vacancies in Germany alone in order to continue to have the capacity to support our customers worldwide with innovative solutions,” said Lamprecht.
For more information: www.zeiss.com
