Record Profitability and EBITDA
Reported record EBITDA of CHF 556 million (would be close to ~CHF 600 million excluding CHF 40 million negative FX impact). EBITDA margin reached ~15.6%, and management guided further margin expansion to ~16.5% in 2026.
Sales and Order Growth (Adjusted)
Sales grew ~5.6% year-over-year and order intake reported ~2.1% growth. Book-to-bill remained positive at 1.06, indicating order intake above sales and ongoing growth momentum.
Strong Earnings Per Share and ROCE Improvement
Earnings per share increased by 19%. Return on capital employed improved by 140 basis points, reflecting better capital efficiency and profitable operations.
Flow Division Outperformance
Flow sales rose 12.3% with EBITDA margin up by ~160 basis points to 13.3%. Energy BU sales grew >20% and Water delivered double-digit growth. Q4 Flow performance showed an 18% year-over-year uplift.
Services (Aftermarket) Strength and Resilience
Aftermarket/Services now represent ~62% of turnover and have grown double-digit for three consecutive years. Services EBITDA improved by ~150 basis points; geographic and capacity investments (Argentina service center, Bahrain acquisition, expanded US turbomachinery center) were made to capture demand.
Strong Capital Structure and Liquidity
Cash and cash equivalents (Sulzer-only) at CHF 640 million; net debt CHF 555 million with net debt/EBITDA ~1.0x (stable). Market capitalization rose substantially since 2023 (TSR ~121% vs SPI 33%).
Shareholder Returns and Dividend Increase
Proposed dividend increase of CHF 0.50 to CHF 4.75 per share (payout ratio ~50%, within 40–70% policy). Dividend growth materially higher over recent years (~up ~40% cumulatively in the period noted).
Operational Improvements and Strategic Investments
Accelerated Sulzer Excellence program, investments in sales force and commercial excellence, supply chain upgrades, improved on-time delivery, quality and safety, launch of Global Water Treatment Center of Excellence, and creation of four shared business hubs (Mexico, Madrid, Pune, Suzhou).