The Linz-based IT group Kontron (formerly S&T) increased its consolidated profit in the past financial year from 55.5 to 75.3 million euros (forecasts were 72 million euros). Sales rose by 15.3 percent to 1.23 billion euros. Kontron estimated organic growth at 9.5 percent. 4800 employees are employed.
The dividend is to be cut by half to 0.50 euros. The group and CEO Hannes Niederhauser justify this with a special dividend that was paid to shareholders in 2022 and which was justified by the sale of the IT service business (this is how the company grew) for 450 million euros. In 2020 the dividend was 30 cents and in 2021 it was 35 cents. The share price fell by more than seven percent yesterday.
Kontron specializes in independent communication between devices (“Internet of Things”, IoT). Niederhauser confirmed the outlook for 2024. Sales are expected to increase to at least 1.9 billion euros, primarily thanks to takeovers, and profits are expected to reach around 100 million euros.
Kontron has recently made several acquisitions. Most recently, Kontron took over the majority of the German electronics company Katek and spent 129 million euros on it. This develops and produces, among other things, control electronics for solar systems and charging technology for electric cars: This area is to be networked with IoT in the next few years.
In the summer of 2023, Comlab, a Swiss provider of high-frequency technology for trains, and the Californian software company Telit Cinterion became part of the Linz-based company. The IT group has the money available as a result of a change in strategy two years ago. Because the margins for IT services were lower, this area was sold. The 450 million euros raised will now flow into acquisitions.
Kontron has also recently made headlines with several orders worth millions:
