News › ZEISS · Stable, double-digit growth in the first half of the financial year
ZEISS was able to continue the high level of incoming orders and revenue in the first half of the new fiscal year with solid growth momentum across all four divisions.
- Half-year revenue again above prior-year level
- All four ZEISS divisions contribute to growth
- Research and development expenses amount to 14.5% of revenue
- High investments in future potential worldwide
- Number of employees increases by 6% to more than 40,000 for the first time
The ZEISS Group’s stable, double-digit growth continued across all four ZEISS divisions in the first half of fiscal year 2022/23 (balance sheet date: March 31, 2023). Half-year revenue reached €4,836 million (+18% vs. prior year) – earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) also exceeded the very good level of the prior year at €917 million (+€181 million vs. prior year). Expenditure on research and development continued to rise and now accounts for 14.5% of sales. The number of employees increased by 6% to 41,259 worldwide.
»We are continuing the dynamic growth of the ZEISS Group from the previous year in the first half of 2022/23,« said Dr. Karl Lamprecht, CEO of ZEISS. »Our high expenditure on research and development and our investments in global infrastructure are important elements of our long-term growth strategy and support the positive development of the company.«
Business development and key figures
Development of the divisions
1st half 2022/23 Sales (in million euros) | 1st half 2021/22 Sales (in million euros) | Change (adjusted for currency effects) Sales (in million euros) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology | 1.656 | 1.170 | +41% (+41%) |
Industrial Quality & Research | 1.139 | 1.056 | +8% (+7%) |
Medical Technology* | 1.175 | 1.057 | +11% (+10%) |
Consumer Markets | 796 | 770 | +3% (+2%) |
* Not identical with the Carl Zeiss Meditec Group.
All four ZEISS divisions contributed to growth in the first half of fiscal year 2022/23. The still challenging geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions are having a varying impact on the business areas. The importance of resilient and diversified supply chains continues to grow.
The direct-to-market businesses recorded positive sales and order intake development in the first half of the current fiscal year, outperforming the previous year. The reason for this is the continued high demand for ZEISS products and solutions. The Medical Technology division achieved very good half-year revenue, with the two strategic business units Microsurgery and Ophthalmology contributing to growth. The Industrial Quality & Research (IQR) division also continued its good growth momentum in the first two quarters of the current fiscal year. The two business units Industrial Quality Solutions and Research Microscopy Solutions contributed to this. The Consumer Markets division was able to generate solid sales growth in the first half of 2022/23, with a slightly improved but challenging market situation.Despite the current slowdown in the semiconductor market, the high demand for the products of the Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (SMT) division remains unchanged and has a major influence on the strong sales growth in this area.
The regions contributed to the continued growth course to varying degrees. The EMEA region improved its sales growth and the AMERICAS and APAC regions also continued their sales growth.
Research and development expenses amounted to 14.5 percent of sales (702 million euros) in the first half of 2022/23. This is a new all-time high. The company’s equity increased to 7,460 million euros (September 30, 2022: 7,173 million euros), with an equity ratio of 56%. Investments in property, plant and equipment amounted to 569 million euros.
»The half-year results show that ZEISS is in a very stable and financially strong position and at the same time continues to invest heavily in the future – this also includes increasing capacities, for example, by expanding infrastructure and staff,« said Dr. Christian Müller, CFO of Carl Zeiss AG.
At the end of the first half of the year, ZEISS employed 41,259 people (as of March 31, 2023), which is 6% more than at the beginning of the fiscal year and for the first time more than 40,000 employees worldwide.
Outlook
Due to the uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic environment, it remains difficult to assess how the global economic situation will develop.
»If the markets continue to develop in a stable manner, we expect all four ZEISS divisions to be able to continue their growth in the second half of the fiscal year. This growth is also reflected in personnel requirements, where we are currently looking to fill around 2,000 vacancies in Germany alone, for example, in order to continue to have the capacity to support customers worldwide with innovative solutions,« said Lamprecht.