EQS-News: STS Group AG's results in line with expectations in the first half of 2025

STS Group AG's results in line with expectations in the first half of 2025 

• Group revenue declines by 6.6% to EUR 143.4 million (H1/2024: EUR 153.5 million)
• EBITDA margin stable at 7.7% despite lower revenue (H1/2024: 7.7%)
• EBITDA decreased in line with revenue to EUR 11.0 million (H1/2024: EUR 11.8 million)
• Still optimistic for full-year guidance despite increased market uncertainty

Hagen, 07 August 2025 – STS Group AG (ISIN: DE000A1TNU68), a global systems supplier for the automotive industry listed on the General Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, today published its half-year report 2025.

Alberto Buniato, CEO of STS Group AG: "Despite a still challenging market environment with regional fluctuations, business development in the first half of 2025 is largely in line with our expectations. The previous year was characterized by high revenues from tools, which, as expected, have not been repeated in the first half of the current financial year. On the other hand, we were able to achieve significantly higher series revenues in the Plastics segment compared to the previous year. This was mainly due to the strong revenue performance of the European plants and the new US plant. The US plant has been operating at normal capacity since the beginning of the year and is contributing continuously to production output as planned. However, the installed capacity has not yet been fully utilized as current production is still ramping up and also short-term market demand is softer than anticipated, influenced by recent tariff developments and overall market uncertainty. The major truck markets in the US, China, and the EU presented a mixed picture with some market smoothing. This is also reflected in the performance of the China segment, where demand in the high-end commercial vehicle market – which STS specifically serves with its products – slowed, contrary to the broader positive market trend. Nevertheless, we were able to keep profitability stable in terms of the EBITDA margin, even with lower revenue. This is mainly attributable to the successful ramp-up of the US plant and the efficiency measures initiated in previous years, particularly in Europe. Accordingly, we remain optimistic that we will achieve our full-year targets."

Revenue development

In the period from 1 January to 30 June 2025, STS Group AG generated Group revenue of EUR 143.4 million, compared with EUR 153.5 million in the same period of the previous year. The expected decline of 6.6% is mainly attributable to lower revenues from tools. In contrast, the Plastics segment benefited from higher series revenues compared with the previous year, with business in Mexico also stabilizing and series production in the US running smoothly since the beginning of the year. Business in Europe bucked the general market trend and developed positively thanks to a favorable product mix and newly launched projects. The STS China segment recorded a reduction in the first half of 2025. This was mainly due to  a slowdown in the demand of the high-end truck segment targeted by STS Group, which developed below expectations and lagged behind the general market trend. Revenue in the Materials segment also declined significantly.

Earnings development

Despite lower revenue, earnings remained stable. Group earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) declined by EUR 0.8 million from EUR 11.8 million to EUR 11.0 million in the first half of the year. However, the STS Group's EBITDA margin remained unchanged at 7.7% (H1/2024: 7.7%). This is mainly attributable to the contribution of the US plant, which was still in a pre-production phase in the previous year, and to efficiency measures initiated in previous years. Due to lower financial expenses and taxes and despite higher depreciation, STS Group AG reported a virtually unchanged consolidated result of EUR -0.7 million for the first half of 2025, compared with EUR -0.7 million in the same period of the previous year. Earnings per share (basic and diluted) amounted to -0.10 EUR in the half-year under review, compared with -0.11 EUR in the previous year.

Balance sheet

Partly due to the negative consolidated result as well as currency effects, the Group's equity decreased to EUR 42.7million as of 30 June 2025, compared to EUR 45.0 million as of 31 December 2024. This corresponds to an equity ratio of 19.4% (31 December 2024: 19.5%). Cash and cash equivalents increased slightly to EUR 26.3 million as of 30 June 2025 (31 December 2024: EUR 25.6 million). In the first half of the reporting period, the STS Group generated positive net cash flow from operating activities of EUR 9.8 million, compared with EUR 5.2 million in the previous year. The development of operating cash flow is significantly influenced by the change in net working capital (H1/2025: EUR -3.3 million; H1/2024: EUR 14.8 million) and other liabilities (H1/2025: EUR 4.0 million; H1/2024: EUR -25.1 million). Operating cash flow in the previous year was impacted by one-time effects related to the tool business in Europe. The Group's net financial debt decreased by EUR 8,7 million to EUR 40,1 million as of 30 June 2025 (31 December 2024: EUR 48.8 million), primarily due to the repayment of bank loans.

Still optimistic for 2025 full-year guidance

Despite increased uncertainty in the markets, business performance in the first half of 2025 is in line with the Executive Board's expectations. In fiscal year 2024, Group revenue was also driven by above-average revenues from tools for new projects. For fiscal year 2025, the Executive Board had therefore already anticipated lower revenues from tools, which are to be partially offset by additional series revenues from the plant in the US. The Executive Board therefore remains confident that it will achieve its full-year forecast of consolidated revenue roughly in line with the revenue adjusted for one-time effects in fiscal year 2024 (2024: around EUR 300 million), EBITDA roughly at the previous year's level, and an EBITDA margin in the higher single-digit percentage range. Nevertheless, the impact of the US tariff policies on the global economic development remains uncertain for the remaining part of the year.

The STS Group AG half-year report 2025 is available for download at www.sts.group.

Group key figures in the first half of 2025 

 About STS Group:

STS Group AG, www.sts.group (ISIN: DE000A1TNU68), is a leading systems supplier for the automotive industry. The group of companies employs 1,400 people worldwide and generated sales of EUR 311.1 million in the 2024 financial year. At its twelve plants and three development centers in France, Germany, Mexico, China and the USA, STS Group ("STS") produces and develops injection-molded plastics and components made from sheet molding compounds (SMC), such as rigid and flexible vehicle and aerodynamic trim, holistic interior systems, as well as lightweight and battery components for electric vehicles. STS is a technological leader in the production of plastic injection molding and composite components. STS has a large global footprint with plants on three continents. The customer portfolio includes leading international manufacturers of commercial vehicles, passenger cars and electric vehicles.

STS Group AG
Investor Relations
Kabeler Str. 4
58099 Hagen
Germany
ir@sts.group
www.sts.group

Press contact
CROSS ALLIANCE communication GmbH
Susan Hoffmeister
Telefon: +49 89 125 09 0333
E-Mail: sh@crossalliance.de
www.crossalliance.de