Heidelberger Druck Shares Slide After Margin Forecast Cut

The company now anticipates an adjusted EBITDA margin between 5.6% and 6.6%, a retreat from its previous goal of exceeding the 6.6% margin achieved last year. Shares endured significant volatility, plummeting more than 20% during intraday trading before settling at 1.15 euros. Management pointed to a challenging global economic environment, negative product mix effects, and specific project delays within its technology segment as the catalysts for the downward revision.

Despite the margin squeeze, the firm maintains its revenue trajectory, projecting sales for the fiscal year ending March 31 to hold steady at 2.29 billion euros. Preliminary second-quarter results present a mixed picture: after-tax profits climbed to 24 million euros—up from 11 million euros a year ago—largely bolstered by a recent acquisition. However, quarterly sales slipped to 509 million euros from 519 million euros, reflecting the underlying strain on the company's core operations.