Swiss testing company SGS reports higher full year sales and profit (updated)

Bureau Veritas SA

11/02/2025 05:53

(Adds detail, outlook)
       ZURICH, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Swiss testing and
certification company SGS  SGSN.S  on Tuesday reported full year
sales in line with forecasts and slightly better than expected
profit.
    The company, which last month ended talks about a potential
$30 billion merger with French rival Bureau Veritas  BVI.PA ,
said its annual sales increased 2.6% to 6.79 billion Swiss
francs ($7.45 billion).
    The figure matched forecasts in a consensus of analysts
compiled by Visible Alpha, while adjusted operating income
increased by 7.1% to 1.04 billion francs, slightly above the
1.02 billion francs expected.
        Testing, inspection and certification companies (TIC)
have been benefiting from the rise in interest around topics
like sustainability, as well companies wanting to ensure the
quality of components they get from their supply chains.
  
        Geneva-based SGS, the largest player in the global TIC
market, said it expected to increase its sales by 5-7% in 2025,
when the impact of currency movements were removed.
  
        It said it also wanted to add 1-2 % in sales from
acquisitions, and continue to improve its profit margin.
  
        SGS has already bought three companies in 2025 in
addition to the 11 it bought during 2024 as it resumed its
acquisitions programme.
  
    

($1 = 0.9116 Swiss francs)

 (Reporting by John Revill, Editing by Friederike Heine)
 ((John.Revill@thomsonreuters.com; +41 41 528 36 37; Reuters
Messaging: john.revill.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))