FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN BRIEF:
10-12/2021
1-12/2021
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
| 10-12/2021 | 10-12/2020 | 1-12/2021 | 1-12/2020 | |
| Net sales, € million | 2,870.3 | 2,662.3 | 11,300.2 | 10,669.2 |
| Operating profit, comparable, € million | 203.5 | 165.6 | 775.5 | 567.8 |
| Operating margin, comparable, % | 7.1 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 5.3 |
| Operating profit, € million | 204.9 | 155.6 | 775.2 | 600.2 |
| Profit before tax, comparable, € million | 187.9 | 150.4 | 710.4 | 481.9 |
| Profit before tax, € million | 189.2 | 138.4 | 712.9 | 527.6 |
| Cash flow from operating activities, € million | 269.2 | 308.4 | 1,152.0 | 1,152.4 |
| Capital expenditure, € million | 80.6 | 55.5 | 276.6 | 398.4 |
| Earnings per share, €, basic and diluted | 0.41 | 0.29 | 1.44 | 1.09 |
| Earnings per share, comparable, €, basic | 0.40 | 0.31 | 1.43 | 0.97 |
| 1-12/2021 | 1-12/2020 | |
| Return on capital employed, comparable, % | 17.2 | 12.0 |
| Return on equity, comparable, % | 24.1 | 17.8 |
Kesko is reporting Kesko Senukai Group, which is part of Kesko’s building and technical trade segment and operates in the Baltic countries and Belarus, as a joint venture as of 1 July 2020. Kesko Senukai Group was reported as a subsidiary until 30 June 2020. In order to enable the comparison of financial performance indicators between reporting periods, Kesko reports illustrative Group performance indicators to be used alongside indicators based on IFRS consolidated financial statements. In segment information, Kesko Senukai is reported as a joint venture also for the comparison periods, as this method is used in management reporting.
| Illustrative Group performance indicators | 10-12/2021* | 10-12/2020 | 1-12/2021* | 1-12/2020 |
| Net sales, € million | 2,870.3 | 2,662.3 | 11,300.2 | 10,242.6 |
| Operating profit, comparable, € million | 203.5 | 165.6 | 775.5 | 553.6 |
| Operating margin, comparable, % | 7.1 | 6.2 | 6.9 | 5.4 |
| Operating profit, € million | 204.9 | 157.2 | 775.2 | 540.0 |
* Reported
In this financial statements release, the comparable change % in net sales has been calculated in local currencies and excluding the impact of Kesko Senukai and the acquisitions and divestments completed in 2020 and 2021. The comparable operating profit has been calculated by deducting items affecting comparability from the reported operating profit. The illustrative performance indicators have been calculated for the comparison periods as if Kesko Senukai had been consolidated as a joint venture.
OUTLOOK AND GUIDANCE FOR 2022
Kesko Group’s outlook is given for the year 2022, in comparison with the year 2021.
Kesko estimates that its comparable operating profit in 2022 will be in the range of €680-800 million. In 2021, Kesko’s comparable operating profit totalled €775.5 million.
Overall, the outlook for Kesko's business in 2022 is positive.
Net sales for the grocery trade division are expected to remain at a good level also in 2022. As the pandemic eases, food sales are expected to partly shift from B2C trade to foodservice wholesale. Food price inflation is estimated to support sales growth.
Outlook for the building and technical trade division is also positive. We expect sales to stay at a good level in B2B trade, which now accounts for 75% of the division’s sales. Demand in B2C trade is expected to normalise. Price inflation is expected to support growth, but prolonged price inflation would lead to lower construction volumes.
In the car trade division, predictions regarding new car sales are made more difficult by uncertainties related to component supply chains. Delivery issues related to the availability of semiconductors will continue to hinder the car trade division’s business also in 2022.
The progress of the pandemic will continue to have an impact on the overall economy, consumer behaviour, and trading sector demand in Kesko’s operating countries. During the pandemic, household consumption has focused on domestic purchases, which is expected to have a positive impact on some of Kesko’s businesses also in 2022. In addition to the Covid-19 pandemic, assessments for outlook and predictions for demand are made more difficult by uncertainties related to overall economic development, inflation, geopolitics, and the availability of goods.
PRESIDENT AND CEO MIKKO HELANDER:
Kesko recorded the best result in the company’s history in 2021 and its Q4 result was also record-high.This was the seventh consecutive year that Kesko’s annual result improved, and 11th consecutive quarter where profit was up on the comparison period. Our sales and profit have been growing for several years, which is a strong indication that our growth strategy is working and being successfully executed. In 2021, our net sales grew by 8.2% in comparable terms, totalling €11,300 million. Our comparable operating profit amounted to a record €776 million, representing an increase of €208 million. Our good ability to produce a profit and strong financial position enable investments in growth and good dividend capacity. Kesko’s Board proposes to the Annual General Meeting a dividend of €1.06/share, totalling nearly €421 million, proposed to be paid in four instalments.
We made a record result in the grocery trade division in 2021. We managed to grow sales and improve customer satisfaction and profitability. The division’s net sales grew by 3.1%, and its comparable operating profit rose to €443 million. Profitability in grocery trade is among the best in the world, with a comparable operating margin of 7.5%. Net sales and sales continued to grow in both grocery stores and foodservice. Online grocery sales grew by 14.2% despite the strong comparison figures. Our strength in grocery trade lies in our extensive network of physical grocery stores combined with efficient online sales and our foodservice business as well as our well-functioning retailer business model. Our strategic objective is to grow sales and improve customer experiences further.
We also achieved a record result in the building and technical trade division, where sales and profitability improved in all business operations. The success is based on the successful execution of our country-specific strategies, combined with good demand. Strong growth continued, driven in particular by B2B trade. Net sales in 2021 grew by 14.7% and totalled €4,388 million. The comparable operating margin for the division rose to a new level of 7.2%. The growth has been underpinned by the good development of the construction markets and high product price levels. In Finland, performance continued strong for Onninen and K-Rauta. Sales and profitability developed well also in Norway and Sweden, in both technical trade and building and home improvement trade. Profitability was also supported by the changes made in recent years, and the acquisitions completed and their successful integration. In line with our strategy, we have focused on B2B trade, which now accounts for 75% of the division’s sales. International operations account for an increasing share of the division’s net sales, now totalling 46%.
Our transformation process in the car trade division is proceeding well and yielding results. Net sales for the division in 2021 grew by 15.2% and totalled €1,028 million. The division’s profitability improved, and the comparable operating margin rose to 5.1%. All operations within the division – new cars, used cars, and services – were profitable. Measures conducted to restructure operations and improve their efficiency, a competitive range, and the growing demand for new and used cars resulted in growth in sales and profitability. Demand for all-electric cars and rechargeable hybrids grew in particular. The global component shortage limited the availability of new cars.
Overall, the outlook for Kesko's business in 2022 is positive. Kesko estimates that its comparable operating profit in 2022 will be in the range of €680-800 million. We will continue our efforts to grow our sales and improve profitability.
I want to thank all our customers, shareholders, employees, K-retailers and their staff, and our partners for the valuable work you did towards Kesko’s and our shared success in 2021.
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