MTU Aero Engines grew revenue by 23% to €2.47 billion in the first half of 2022 (1-6/2021: €2.00 billion). The operating profit increased by 53% from €190 million to €290 million. The adjusted EBIT margin rose from 9.5% in the first half of 2021 to 11.7% in the first half of 2022. Net income developed in line with operating profit, rising 53% to €207 million compared with €135 million in the prior-year period.
“Despite the ongoing challenges, MTU successfully continued its profitable growth course in the first half of the year. Market data such as the development of passenger and cargo traffic and demand for new aircraft, especially narrowbodies, point to a sustained recovery in our sector,” said Reiner Winkler, CEO of MTU Aero Engines AG. “In view of that, we can now confirm our guidance for the full year.” MTU’s forecast is based on an US$ exchange rate of 1.10. The company’s guidance was previously based on an exchange rate of 1.15.
All business areas at MTU generated higher revenue than in the first half of 2021.
The highest revenue growth was registered in the commercial maintenance business, where revenue increased by 26% to €1.71 billion (1-6/2021: €1.35 billion). The most important revenue generators were the PW1100G-JM engine for the A320neo and the V2500 for the classic A320 aircraft family.
“At the end of the first six months, maintenance business for the PW1100G-JM is slightly lower than had been anticipated. In U.S. dollars, we now expect full-year revenue growth to be in the high teen percentage range,” said CFO Peter Kameritsch.
MTU had previously forecast commercial MRO revenue growth on a dollar basis in the mid to high twenty-percent range.
Kameritsch added: “Currency effects are likely to have a compensatory effect here, so on a euro basis our total revenue target remains unchanged.”
In the commercial engine business, MTU increased revenue by 16% from €515 million to €596 million. Measured in dollars, organic revenue growth in the spare parts business was in the mid-teen percentage range. Organic revenue in the commercial series business declined by about 10%.
Kameritsch said: “We saw a rise in spare parts, especially for narrowbody and freighter aircraft engines. In the series business, Geared Turbofan™ deliveries recovered, while the situation with other programs such as the GEnx remained challenging.” The main revenue driver in the commercial engine business was the PW1100G-JM.
The order backlog set another new record at €24.56 billion (December 31, 2021: €22.24 billion). The majority of the orders were for the V2500 and the Geared Turbofan engines of the PW1000G family, especially the PW1100G-JM. “The orders totaling nearly US$600 million received last week at the Farnborough Airshow are further evidence of MTU’s strong order situation,” said Winkler.
Both of MTU’s operating segments improved their half-year results. In the MRO business, adjusted EBIT rose 61% from €77 million to €124 million. The adjusted EBIT margin was 7.3%, compared with 5.7% in the first half of 2021.
In the OEM business, adjusted EBIT rose 47% to €165 million (1-6/2021: €113 million). The adjusted EBIT margin increased from 16.0% in the first half of 2021 to 20.4% in the first half of 2022.
MTU spent €135 million on research and development in the first six months, which was 32% more than in the prior-year period (1-6/2021: €102 million). “Our sustained high R&D expenditure shows that we are investing in sustainable, emission-free aviation for the future and thus in the future of MTU,” said Winkler. The funds were used for improvements in the performance of the Geared Turbofan programs, technology studies for future engine generations, especially hydrogen and flying fuel cells, and digitalization of engine construction.
The free cash flow was €168 million in the first six months, compared with €187 million in the prior-year period. “With regard to our working capital, we are stepping up our focus on issues such as supply chains, turnaround times and the expected increase in volumes. At the same time, we are clearly within our full-year expectations,” said Kameritsch.
Net capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment increased by 46% from €63 million to €91
million in the first six months.
At the end of the first half-year, MTU had 10,833 employees, 3% more than at year-end 2021 (December 31, 2021: 10,508 employees).
MTU is retaining its guidance on FY 2022. The company expects revenue for the year to be between €5.2 billion and €5.4 billion. Adjusted EBIT should increase in the mid twenty-percent range. Net income is expected to rise in line with operating profit. MTU expects the cash conversion rate, which shows the ratio of free cash flow to adjusted net income, to be in the mid to high double-digit percentage range in 2022 (2021: 70%).
