DÜSSELDORF (dpa-AFX) - Plant manufacturer Gea has exceeded its profit target for 2022 thanks to good business in almost all areas. Adjusted for group restructuring costs, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (adjusted Ebitda) rose 14 percent to 712 million euros, the MDax-listed company announced in Düsseldorf on Tuesday. Gea thus exceeded its already raised forecast of around 690 million euros and also the average expectations of industry experts. For the new year, CEO Stefan Klebert is targeting an operating profit of between 730 and 790 million euros. On average, this is also more than analysts expect.

Gea 2022 increased sales by almost ten percent to just under 5.2 billion euros. Order intake increased by around nine percent to 5.7 billion euros. The bottom line was a profit of a good 401 million euros, almost a third more than in the previous year. The dividend is to rise from 90 to 95 cents per share. On average, however, analysts had expected somewhat more./stw/zb