Business

Vestas cuts 2021 outlook for second time as shares plunge

Citing rising costs and supply chain instability, firm expects 4% operating profit margin

Global supply disruptions are not the only challenge faced by companies in the industry, operators of wind farms are also grappling with weaker winds. Photograph: iStock

Wed Nov 3 2021 - 09:54

Vestas slashed its 2021 outlook for a second time this year in response to higher costs and supply constraints, sending its shares tumbling as much as 14 per cent as the world’s largest maker of wind turbines posted forecast-lagging quarterly profit.

Citing rising costs and supply chain instability caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the company on Wednesday said it now expected its operating profit margin to be 4 per cent from 5-7 per cent previously – a far cry from its long-term target of a 10 per cent margin.

“The prices are something I don’t think anyone has experienced previously and it’s a very, very tough environment,” chief financial officer Marika Fredriksson told Reuters.

“I think it’s likely it’s going to continue into next year and I don’t see the trend changing,” she said, adding that the company has not yet cancelled any projects but there had been several delays.

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The global supply disruptions are not the only challenge faced by companies in the industry, operators of wind farms are also grappling with weaker winds.

Compatriot Orsted, the world’s largest developer of offshore wind farms, said on Wednesday low wind speeds continued to hit its earnings, showing that despite strong fundamentals, renewables are still an intermittent technology where swings in the level of winds and sunshine have a direct impact on earnings.

New appointments

Vestas on Wednesday also announced that Fredriksson will be stepping down as CFO being the last of a Swedish trio - along with former CEO Anders Runevad and chairman Bert Nordberg - that has turned Vestas around and cut costs to lift the company’s operating margin to industry-leading levels.

Hans Martin Smith, currently finance chief of Vestas’ Northern and Central European business, will take over by next March.

Operating profit before special items fell 21 per cent to €325 million euros in the quarter, missing the €381 million forecast by 16 analysts in a poll compiled by the company.

Its shares, which were already down some 33 per cent so far this year, had fallen 10 per cent by 8.20am Irish time.

“With unclear/less favourable onshore demand outlook, rising Chinese competition threat in onshore and input cost headwinds lasting longer, we believe it is still very early to be positive on the company,” JP Morgan analysts said in a research note.

Vestas stuck to its previous forecast of full-year revenue in the range of €15.5-€16.5 billion. – Reuters

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