KSB SE & Co (KSB) Q1 2026 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Order intake rose 15.2% year-over-year to €1,012.3 million, driven by a major energy sector order despite geopolitical and currency headwinds.

• Sales revenue remained stable at €711.8 million, up 0.4% from Q1 2025.

• EBIT declined 12.4% year-over-year to €39.8 million, impacted by margin pressure, higher administrative costs, and SAP system transition expenses.

Financial highlights

• EBITDA fell 6.4% year-over-year to €65.4 million.

• Free cash flow deteriorated to €-32.8 million from €-8.8 million, mainly due to higher investments and lower operating cash flow.

• EBIT margin decreased to 5.6% from 6.4% in Q1 2025.

• Net financial position declined to €275.1 million from €315.4 million at year-end 2025.

Outlook and guidance

• Management expects order intake, sales revenue, and EBIT to remain within the previously published 2026 forecast ranges.

• Ongoing SAP S/4HANA transition will continue to weigh on earnings in 2026, but is seen as a strategic opportunity to improve efficiency and achieve a long-term EBIT margin above 10% by 2030.

• Geopolitical risks, especially from the Iran conflict, could materially impact financial performance if prolonged.