Lanxess Q2 core profit beats expectations, shares jump
Q2 EBITDA pre-exceptionals at 181 mln euros
Sees Q3 EBITDA pre-exceptionals at about Q2 level
Shares soar as much as 22%
Adds CEO quote in paragraph 4, context in paragraph 7 and updates share move in paragraph 8
By Ozan Ergenay and Linda Pasquini
July 17 (Reuters) -Lanxess LXSG.DE reported a better-than-expected preliminary core profit for the second quarter, and gave an upbeat guidance for the third quarter, sending its shares soaring as much as 22% on Wednesday.
The Cologne-based chemicals company posted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) pre-exceptionals of 181 million euros ($197.89 million), exceeding analysts' expectations of 137 million euros, thanks to inventory reduction in 2023 and cost savings, it said.
The chemicals group forecast its third-quarter EBITDA pre-exceptionals to be close to or up to the level of the second quarter.
"We are benefiting from the fact that we have consistently adjusted our cost structures in recent months and have become more efficient: wherever demand picks up further, we will be in a far better position to benefit from it," CEO Matthias Zachert said in a statement.
Compared to the second quarter of 2023, sales volumes increased slightly in some customer industries, the company said.
However, these were offset by a weak demand for agro chemicals and difficult market conditions in the construction industry, it added.
The chemicals sector, Germany's third-largest industry that employs roughly half a million workers, continues to struggle as customers are reluctant to place new orders amid prolonged economic uncertainty that has kept raw materials and energy prices high.
Shares pared gains and were up 17.5% at 26.3 euros at 1313 GMT, set for their best day ever, after rising as much as 22% in afternoon trade.
Lanxess, which will publish its full results for the second quarter on August 9, confirmed its full-year core profit guidance to grow by 10% to 20%.
($1 = 0.9147 euros)
Reporting by Ozan Ergenay and Linda Pasquini; editing by Matthias Williams and Madeline Chambers
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