Finnish lift maker Kone predicts profitability gains despite China woes
Recasts, adds detail and quotes
By Anne Kauranen
HELSINKI, April 24 (Reuters) -Finnish elevator and escalator maker Kone KNEBV.HE expects improved profitability this year despite a prolonged construction slowdown that is hurting its business in China, it said after reporting quarterly results on Wednesday.
China accounts for about 25% of Kone's business, but the company's new equipment division has been struggling to contend with protracted property sector woes in the country since 2021.
Kone, however, predicts growth in other regions. It expects growth in new equipment sales in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, plus growth in its maintenance and modernisation businesses, to offset the drag on performance in China.
"We had very good orders in many parts of the world, with strongest growth in India, South-East Asia and North America," said CEO Philippe Delorme.
Kone forecast a full-year adjusted operating profit margin of between 11.5% and 12.3% on local currency sales growth of up to 5%. The margin was 11.4% last year.
First-quarter operating profit grew 10.1% to 262 million euros ($280 million), beating the 256 million euro average estimate in the an analyst poll supplied by the company.
Kone said its expects the Chinese market for new equipment to decline by close to 10%, at the upper end of its previous projection of a 5-10% drop.
"We do expect the market to be somewhat more difficult," Kone finance chief Ilkka Hara told reporters, adding that there are still opportunities for growth in maintenance and modernisation of old equipment, even in China.
Shares in the company rose 3.3% in morning trade after RBC analysts called the results "modestly positive" and JPM said the stability of Kone's first-quarter order intake margin was a stronger development than at Swiss rival Schindler SCHP.S.
($1 = 0.9344 euros)
Reporting by Anne Kauranen in Helsinki
Editing by Anna Ringstrom and David Goodman
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