Konecranes Shares Growth Strategy

Konecranes updates its strategic ambition, financial targets and dividend policy as part of its accelerated growth strategy. Konecranes’ new ambition is to be the partner of choice for lifting lifecycle value. The company’s purpose is unchanged as together with its customers, Konecranes is shaping the next generation of material handling for a smarter, safer, and better world.

Over the last few years, Konecranes has strengthened its market position, improved its financial performance and continued to progress towards its sustainability targets. Building on the structural improvements made, the company is pursuing accelerated profitable growth. Konecranes has defined clear strategic focus areas to enable the successful implementation of the strategy. The upgraded financial targets and capital allocation framework demonstrate the increased ambition level to create long-term value for shareholders.

“Konecranes has built a strong foundation, and we are ready for the next wave of accelerated growth. We are committed to our Business Areas, which continue to provide significant opportunities to expand market coverage, while market and megatrends also support the growth ambition. The company has a solid track record of organic and inorganic growth and a strong balance sheet, positioning us well to invest in growth. I’m pleased to discuss the strategy at the Capital Markets Day in October,” says Konecranes’ President and CEO Marko Tulokas.

Upgraded financial targets for Konecranes and its Business Areas

Net sales growth of 7% (CAGR1) (previously sales growth faster than the market)

Comparable EBITA margin of 15-17%, to be reached latest for the year 2030 (previously 13-16%)

• Business Area Industrial Service:
  Net sales growth of 7% (CAGR1) (previously sales growth clearly faster than the market)
  Comparable EBITA margin of 23-25% (previously 21-25%)
• Business Area Industrial Equipment:
  Net sales growth of 6% (CAGR1) (previously sales growth in line with the market)
  Comparable EBITA margin of 10-12% (previously 8-11%)
• Business Area Port Solutions:
  Net sales growth of 7% (CAGR1) (previously sales growth clearly faster than the market)
  Comparable EBITA margin of 9-12% (previously 9-11%)

Compound annual growth rate

Konecranes’ growth focus is on market share expansion both organically and inorganically within the existing Business Areas, complementing the offering, as well as geographical and customer segment presence. The company aims to grow by expanding its product offering, enhancing service and technology capabilities.

Konecranes aims to reach its upgraded profitability target through a combination of operating leverage, continued operational excellence, and by further implementing modular product architectures, while leveraging unmatched installed base and operational data.

‘We have unparalleled asset and operational data allowing us to harness possibilities of AI for the benefit of our customers and efficiency in how we operate’ — Marko Tulokas

Strategic focus areas drive execution of accelerated growth strategy

“Together with the Konecranes team, we defined the focus areas enabling us to continue expanding our market coverage and leading innovation. We leverage our existing lifecycle model and dual channels to expand both offering and presence. We have unparalleled asset and operational data allowing us to harness possibilities of AI for the benefit of our customers and efficiency in how we operate,” says Marko Tulokas.

“Konecranes’ strong culture of driving safe and lean ways of working allows us to continuously improve customer outcomes and operational performance. Empowering our people to act rapidly and flexibly is essential in the current dynamic operating environment,” Tulokas continues.

• Win with technology. Extend technology leadership by increasing investments in product intelligence, autonomy and modularity that will drive differentiation and efficiency for the customer in the long-term.
• Grow lifecycle value. Increase the service business and the value it creates for customers by expanding data-enabled offerings and deepening customer relationships.
• Deepen customer reach. Increase and optimize market presence and customer proximity through the company’s proven and unique dual channel approach — Konecranes‘ own sales and service network and the distribution partners of regional brands.
• Perform with agility. Further develop resilience to economic and geopolitical forces through customer centricity, empowered culture, operational efficiency, agile supply chains, as well as geographical and industry diversification.

Capital allocation and updated dividend policy

Konecranes’ capital allocation reflects its ambition for accelerated growth and long-term shareholder value creation. The company aims to maintain a healthy financial position and reiterates its gearing ceiling target of 80%.

As part of the normal business operations, Konecranes ensures it allocates adequate funds into its operations, technology capabilities and innovation.

Konecranes updates its dividend policy, linking it directly to earnings. According to the updated policy, the dividend payout ratio is 40-60% of earnings over the business cycle, excluding exceptional gains or losses. According to the previous dividend policy the company aimed to distribute a stable to increasing dividend, over the cycle.

Konecranes aims to accelerate capital allocation to inorganic growth opportunities.

The company intends to distribute excess cash to the shareholders after investments into innovation, capital expenditure, dividend payments and organic and inorganic growth initiatives by way of share buybacks.