Krones: Order intake rises 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2026

Krones started the 2026 financial year with higher order intake and confirmed its full-year guidance. From January to March, orders increased by 5.3 percent to €1,512.1 million. Order intake was therefore above both the prior-year figure of €1,435.9 million and the fourth-quarter 2025 figure of €1,460.0 million.

Reported revenue declined to €1,379.1 million in the first quarter, compared with €1,410.0 million a year earlier. Adjusted for currency translation effects, which Krones quantified at around €50 million, revenue grew by 1.4 percent. The book-to-bill ratio stood at 1.10. On this basis, the company expects revenue growth to accelerate over the remainder of the year.

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The order backlog increased by 3.2 percent compared with the end of 2025 to €4,323.4 million. According to the company, this backlog secures utilization of production capacities in the plant and project business well into the fourth quarter of 2026.

Profitability improved slightly. EBITDA amounted to €148.9 million, almost unchanged from the prior-year level of €149.3 million. The EBITDA margin increased from 10.6 percent to 10.8 percent and was therefore within the target corridor for 2026. Earnings before taxes declined from €107.9 million to €98.1 million. Net income fell to €68.6 million from €75.9 million in the previous year. Earnings per share amounted to €2.17.

Free cash flow before M&A activities came in at minus €9.5 million in the first quarter, compared with €165.2 million in the prior year. Krones attributed the development mainly to a deliberate build-up of working capital of €126.0 million, including a reduction in liabilities to suppliers. Net liquidity amounted to €523.1 million at the end of March. ROCE stood at 17.6 percent, compared with 20.5 percent in the prior year.

For the full year 2026, Krones confirmed its financial targets. The company expects revenue growth adjusted for currency translation effects of 3 to 5 percent, an EBITDA margin of 10.7 to 11.1 percent, and ROCE of 19 to 20 percent. The company cited the volatile global economic environment, geopolitical conflicts, global tariff policies, possible effects on world trade, as well as material shortages and supply chain risks as factors of uncertainty.

More information: www.krones.com

Krones AG, Neutraubling

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