LPKF: Solid start to the 2025 financial year

Corporate News - GARBSEN, 30 APRIL 2025

The LPKF Group has announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025. With revenue of EUR 25.3 million (Q1 2024: EUR 25.4 million) and adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR -3.4 million (Q1 2024: EUR -4.3 million), the company achieved its own forecast. According to this, revenue in the first quarter should be between EUR 25 million and EUR 28 million and adjusted EBIT* between EUR -3.5 million and EUR -1.5 million.

At EUR -3.4 million, adjusted EBIT was 21% higher than the previous year's figure. CEO Klaus Fiedler says: "We can already see in the first quarter that the consistent measures to reduce our fixed costs are having a clear impact. We are determined to further improve our profitability over the course of the year".

At EUR 20.5 million, incoming orders after three months were down on the previous year (Q1 2024: EUR 33.2 million), with the difference being exclusively attributable to a major order from the Solar segment booked in March of the previous year. In the other divisions, LPKF recorded stable to strongly increased market demand despite opposing currency effects.

The order backlog fell from EUR 67.3 million in the same quarter of the previous year to EUR 46.1 million. This decline is due to orders from the Solar segment that are still being negotiated. 

Current geopolitical developments, in particular US tariff policy, pose a challenge for the technology company. The special tariffs announced by the US government would influence the investment decisions of American customers and put a strain on the global supply chain. The ongoing planning uncertainty and the conflict between the USA and China are further destabilizing global trade. LPKF exports around a third of its revenue to the USA and, thanks to its strong unique selling propositions, only encounters local competitors to a limited extent.

Outlook

For the 2025 financial year, LPKF continues to expect consolidated revenue of EUR 125 to 140 million and an adjusted EBIT margin of between 6% and 9% despite the currently very uncertain global economic and political environment.

In the current second quarter, the Management Board expects consolidated sales of EUR 28 to 35 million (Q2 2024: EUR 29.8 million) and adjusted EBIT of between EUR -1.7 and 3.0 million (Q2 2024: EUR –0.8 million).

In the medium term, LPKF aims to achieve an attractive single-digit growth rate for its core business. In addition to the core business, the new business initiatives in the semiconductor, display and biotechnology markets are expected to contribute revenue in the low triple-digit million euro range in the medium term. Based on the revenue growth and the resulting economies of scale, the Management Board is aiming for an attractive double-digit EBIT margin for the LPKF Group in the coming years.

*Adjusted EBIT is EBIT adjusted for restructuring and severance costs and changes in the long-term incentive (LTI) due to fluctuations in the performance factor or the share price. LPKF expects these costs to amount to 0.5 - 1.5% of revenue in the 2025 financial year.

About LPKF

As a high-tech mechanical engineering company, LPKF develops high-precision, scalable manufacturing processes that are used in growth markets such as semiconductors & electronics, life science & medical technology, smart mobility and research & development. Founded in 1976, the company is headquartered in Garbsen near Hanover and operates worldwide through subsidiaries and agencies. LPKF employs over 700 people and strives tirelessly to drive technological progress with innovative solutions and bring about lasting, positive change in the world. The shares of LPKF Laser & Electronics SE are traded on the SDAX of the German Stock Exchange (ISIN 0006450000).