FRANKENTHAL (dpa-AFX) - Pump and valve manufacturer KSB is entering the new year with rather cautious financial targets in view of global tensions. Following the record figure of 2.82 billion euros in the previous year, sales revenue is now expected to be in a range between 2.7 and 3.05 billion euros, the SDax-listed company announced in Frankenthal on Tuesday. The management expects earnings before interest and taxes to be between 210 and 245 million euros. In the previous year, the operating result climbed by a third to 223.9 million euros. Analysts had previously predicted an average revenue of just under 3 billion euros and an operating result of 239 million euros for the new year, at the upper end of the target range. The company could not completely escape the geopolitical tensions, they said.

KSB increased its sales revenue by almost ten percent last year, while the operating profit margin rose by 1.3 percentage points to 7.9 percent. At 2.96 billion euros, order intake was a good three percent up on the previous year and is expected to reach between 2.8 and 3.15 billion euros this year. Profit after tax rose by more than a third to 176.6 million euros in 2023. The dividend is set to rise to 26 euros per ordinary share and 26.26 euros per preference share. That is 6.50 euros more in each case than in the previous year./men/jha/