Vestas – Interim financial report, third quarter 2016

In the third quarter of 2016, Vestas generated revenue of EUR 2,903m – an increase of 37 percent compared to the year-earlier period. EBIT before special items increased by EUR 201m to EUR 433m. The EBIT margin before special items was 14.9 percent compared to 10.9 percent in the third quarter of 2015 and the free cash flow amounted to EUR 155m compared to EUR 158m in the third quarter of 2015.

The intake of firm and unconditional wind turbine orders amounted to 1,769 MW in the third quarter of 2016. The value of the wind turbine order backlog amounted to EUR 7.2bn at 30 September 2016. In addition to the wind turbine order backlog, Vestas had service agreements with expected contractual future revenue of EUR 9.9bn at the end of September 2016. Thus, the value of the combined backlog of wind turbine orders and service agreements stood at EUR 17.1bn – an increase of EUR 0.7bn compared to the year-earlier period.

Vestas upgrades the 2016 guidance on revenue from minimum EUR 9.5bn to EUR 10-10.5bn, EBIT margin before special items from minimum 12.5 percent to 13-14 percent, and free cash flow from minimum EUR 800m to minimum EUR 1,000m. The upgrades are based mainly on improved delivery visibility for the remainder of the year. Vestas also adjusts 2016 guidance on total investments from approx EUR 500m to approx EUR 600m.

Group President & CEO Anders Runevad said: “I am very pleased with Vestas’ solid third quarter performance. Revenue and earnings are up strongly, as are deliveries across all regions. Order intake is up 17 percent, while combined turbine and service order backlog declined this quarter, largely due to high turbine delivery activity. With better visibility toward the end of the year, we are also upgrading the full-year guidance.”