Rational AG grows successfully – preliminary figures for the 2024 fiscal year

• Sales revenues of 318 million euros in the fourth quarter of 2024 – 1.194 billion euros in fiscal year 2024
• iVario sales revenues up 16 percent – iCombi rises by 5 percent
• Strong growth in America and Europe
• EBlT margin rises to 26.3 percent

Landsberg am Lech, 6 February 2025    “2024 brought economic challenges, but was a very successful year for Rational,” reports Rational CEO Dr Peter Stadelmann. The company headquartered in Landsberg am Lech, published preliminary business figures for 2024 on the morning of 6 February 2025.

According to preliminary calculations, sales revenues expand by 6 percent to 1.194 billion euros
According to preliminary calculations, the Rational Group’s sales revenues reached a new record of 1.194 billion euros in 2024 (2023: 1.126 billion euros), an increase of 68 million euros or 6 percent compared to the previous year. In the fourth quarter, sales revenues rose by 9 percent, also to a new record high of 318 million euros. Especially the two largest regions, Europe (excluding Germany) and North America, made significant contributions to growth, both adding 7 percent to sales revenues in 2024. In North America, Rational thus successfully countered the flat market trend. In Latin America, sales revenues exceeded the prior-year figure by as much as 17 percent on a lower absolute level. Following the previous year’s strong growth, Rational’s sales revenues in Asia were down somewhat on the previous year. In Germany, the company expanded by 2 percent.

With an increase of 16 percent, sales revenue growth in the iCombi product group was particularly encouraging. The iCombi product group was up 5 percent on the prior-year figure.

EBIT of 314 million euros gives EBIT margin of 26.3 percent
In line with the positive sales revenue trend, Rational also recorded strong key earnings figures. EBIT (earnings before financial result and taxes) went up by 13 percent year-on-year to 314 million euros, the highest level ever recorded. “As in the previous quarters, our year-end is benefiting from a stable cost level in combination with encouraging sales revenue growth,” explains CFO Jörg Walter. “Positive effects, especially on the procurement side, strengthened our EBIT margin. At the same time, we continued to invest in the future of RATIONAL by increasing our research and development costs,” adds the CFO.

Cautiously optimistic and well positioned for the future
“We are closely monitoring the economic and geopolitical developments,” says Dr Peter Stadelmann. “Given our strong position in the market, our exceptionally healthy balance sheet and the good liquidity position, we consider ourselves well prepared for the challenges of the future,” promises the CEO. Detailed indicators, forecasts for the 2025 fiscal year and the dividend proposal for the 2024 fiscal year will be published on the morning of 27 March 2025, when the company will also hold its balance sheet press conference and an earnings call.

Contact:
Rational Aktiengesellschaft
Stefan Arnold / Head of Investor Relations
Tel. +49 (0)8191 327-2209
Fax +49 (0)8191 327-72 2209

E-mail: ir@rational-online.com
rational-online.com

Editorial note:
Rational is the global market and technology leader for innovative cooking systems in commercial food preparation. Its customer base ranges from restaurants and hotels through company canteens, hospitals, schools, universities, military facilities, prisons and retirement homes, quick service restaurants, party services, supermarkets, bakeries and takeaway outlets, down to butchers’ shops, service stations and delivery services, including ghost kitchens, as they are known.

According to company estimates, the worldwide market potential for combi steamers is 4.8 million customers, of whom around 75 percent are still using traditional cooking equipment. With intelligent cooking systems – the iCombi, the iVario and the iHexagon – all these appliances can be replaced. Customers will in this way improve the quality of their food and save hard cash. In addition, RATIONAL offers a large variety of services for its customers, such as accessories, care products, spare parts, training and technical services.

Outcomes of the unique customer benefit philosophy are market leadership, growth, profitability and stability, which manifest in the following indicators for 2024: global market share of 50 percent, sales revenues of 1,194 million euros, EBIT of 314 million euros, EBIT margin of 26 percent, equity ratio of 78 percent.