Year-end report January – December 2018
Group net sales for 2018 amounted to SEK 52,233 million (49,981), which was an increase of five percent. After adjustments for acquired and divested units net sales increased by four percent compared to the last year.
Operating profit for 2018 amounted to SEK 2,573 million compared to SEK 2,418 million for the last year.
Orders received for 2018 amounted to SEK 51,087 million compared to SEK 48,999 million for the last year. Order backlog amounted to SEK 45,819 million compared to SEK 40,205 million at the end of 2017.
Group 1)
| MSEK | Oct-Dec 2018 | Oct-Dec 2017 | Jan-Dec 2018 | Jan-Dec 2017 | |
| Mkr | Okt-dec 2018 | Okt-dec 2017 | Jan-dec 2018 | Jan-dec 2017 | |
| Net sales | Nettoomsättning | 14,845 | 14,490 | 52,233 | 49,981 |
| Operating profit | Rörelseresultat | 863 | 753 | 2,573 | 2,418 |
| Operating margin, % | Rörelsemarginal, % | 5.8 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 4.8 |
| Pre-tax profit | Resultat före skatt | 839 | 825 | 2,518 | 2,458 |
| Profit for the period | Periodens resultat | 706 | 680 | 2,100 | 2,067 |
| Earnings per share, SEK | Resultat per aktie, kr | 2.39 | 2.31 | 7.12 | 7.01 |
| Return on equity, % | Räntabilitet på eget kapital, % | 19.6 2) | 21.3 2) | 19.6 | 21.3 |
| Net debt | Nettoskuld | 3,551 | 1,216 | 3,551 | 1,216 |
| Equity/assets ratio, % | Soliditet, % | 30.4 | 32.2 | 30.4 | 32.2 |
| Cash flow before financing | Kassaflöde före finansiering | 949 | 1,508 | -1,021 | 2,295 |
| Number of employees at the end of the period | Antal anställda vid utgången av perioden | 14,614 | 14,344 | 14,614 | 14,344 |
1) Recalculated taking IFRS 15 into account. 2) Calculated on rolling 12 months.
Financial goals 3)
Goal > 25%
The goal for the equity/assets ratio is at least 25 percent. On 31 December 2018 the equity/assets ratio was 30.4 percent compared to 32.2 percent at the end of last year.
3) Years 2010-2015 have not been recalculated taking IFRS 15 into account.
Goal > 20%
The goal for return on equity is a yield of at least 20 percent. The return on equity calculated was 19.6 percent (21.3).
Goal > 50%
The goal for dividends is at least 50 percent of profit for the year. The Board’s proposal for a dividend in 2018 of SEK 4.20 (4.00) per share corresponds to 59 percent (58) of profit for the year.