Revenue on par with last year’s first quarter while earnings and free cash flow decreased. Solid order intake and combined order backlog at all-time high level. Guidance for 2019 maintained.
In the first quarter of 2019, Vestas generated revenue of EUR 1,730m – an increase of 2 percent compared to the year-earlier period. EBIT before special items decreased by EUR 83m to EUR 43m. The EBIT margin was 2.5 percent compared to 7.4 percent in the first quarter of 2018 and free cash flow* amounted to EUR (876)m compared to EUR (587)m in the first quarter of 2018.
The intake of firm and unconditional wind turbine orders amounted to 3,004 MW in the first quarter of 2019.
The value of the wind turbine order backlog amounted to EUR 13.3bn as at 31 March 2019. In addition to the wind turbine order backlog, Vestas had service agreements with expected contractual future revenue of EUR 15.0bn at the end of March 2019. Thus, the value of the combined backlog of wind turbine orders and service agreements stood at EUR 28.3bn – an increase of EUR 6.7bn compared to the year-earlier period.
Vestas maintains its 2019 guidance on revenue of EUR 10.75bn-12.25bn, EBIT margin before special items of 8-10 percent, and total investments* of approx. EUR 700m.
*) Excl. the acquisition of SOWITEC Group GmbH, any investments in marketable securities, and short-term financial investments.