K+S confirms Q1 earnings beat and 2024 guidance as potash prices stabilise
13/05/2024 06:00
May 13 (Reuters) - German potash and salt miner K+S
SDFGn.DE confirmed its core profit beat on Monday, as it
benefited from a strong European specialty and industry business
performances.
The Hessian-based firm posted earnings before interests,
taxes, depreciation and amortization of 200 million euros
($215.38 million), 21% above analysts' expectations of 165
million euros, according to a poll by Vara research.
Potash prices have started to recover and stabilise
following a period of volatility due to Russia's invasion of
Ukraine, which hurt the margins of potash miners.
K+S' results echo Toronto-listed Nutrien's NTR.TO , which
posted a core profit fueled by strong demand for crop nutrients
from North America.
However, they contrasted with U.S.-based Mosaic MOS.N and
Norwegian Yara YAR.OL as both reported lower prices weighing
down on the companies' earnings.
K+S also confirmed its guidance for 2024, aiming for an
EBITDA within a range of between EUR 500 million and EUR 650
million and an adjusted break-even free cash flow.
"The lower end has become less likely with the good first
quarter, but the closing in China in particular is still
pending" Chief Executive Officer Burkhard Lohr said in an
interview.
($1 = 0.9286 euros)
(Reporting by Tristan Veyet and Matteo Allievi in Gdansk;
Editing by Janane Venkatraman
)
((Tristan.Chabba@thomsonreuters.com;))