The first quarter at Harju Elekter was a period of preparations for the year: developments were started to fulfil the new framework contracts in Finland and Sweden, the construction of the Lithuanian plant extension reached its final stages, and the full-time operation of the industrial robot was launched. Although revenue increased both in Estonia and Sweden, the decrease in revenue was affected by the postponements of the installation works in the Group’s largest market, Finland. Despite the health and raw materials crisis, the Group did not have to stop production for a single day. The increase in client queries and orders in all operating segments gives reason to believe that a challenging yet fascinating economic cycle awaits after the retreat of the crisis.
Revenue, Expenses, and Profit
The consolidated unaudited revenue for the first quarter of 2021 was 30.7 (Q1 2020: 35.0) million euros, which was 12.2% more modest than in the reference period. In addition to the usual seasonality, the profitability of the quarter was also affected by the postponed instalment works of our customers due to the snowy winter months, which did not have a similar effect in the reference period. The situation was amplified by supply difficulties caused by a shortage of materials.
| EUR’000 | Q1 | Q1 | +/- | ||
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||
| Revenue | 30,717 | 34,998 | -12.2% | ||
| Gross profit | 3,844 | 4,923 | -21.9% | ||
| EBITDA | 1,485 | 1,943 | -23.5% | ||
| Operating profit (EBIT) | 516 | 1,053 | -51.0% | ||
| Profit for the period | 297 | 703 | -57.8% | ||
| Incl. attributable to owners of the parent company | 310 | 728 | -57.4% | ||
| Earnings per share (EPS) (euros) | 0.02 | 0.04 | -57.4% | ||
The total operating expenses for the reporting quarter were 30.3 (Q1 2020: 33.9) million euros. The majority of the 10.7% decrease in expenses was due to a decrease in the cost of sales: 3.2 million euros year-on-year. Labour costs increased year-on-year, amounting to 7.3 (Q1 2020: 6.6) million euros. The increase in labour costs and average remuneration was affected most by the increase of the proportion of Swedish employees in the Group, since wage levels are significantly higher in Scandinavian countries than they are in Estonian and Lithuanian companies.
The consolidated gross profit for the reporting quarter was 3,844 (Q1 2020: 4,923) thousand euros and the gross profit margin was 12.5% (Q1 2020: 14.1%). Quarterly consolidated operating profit (EBIT) amounted to 516 (Q1 2020: 1,053) thousand euros. The operating margin for the first quarter was 1.7% (Q1 2020: 3.0%).
The consolidated net profit for the reporting quarter was 297 (Q1 2020: 703) thousand euros of which the share of the owners of the parent company was 310 (Q1 2020: 728) thousand euros. The earnings per share were 0.02 (Q1 2020: 0.04) euros. The lower profitability was a result of increased labour costs, setback on revenue and a sharp increase in the price of raw materials.
Core Business and Markets
The Group’s core business, Production, accounted for 89% of the Group’s consolidated revenue. Beginning with new orders, the usual seasonality and the low availability of raw materials decreased the revenue of the production segment by 4.1 million to 27.2 million euros on a year-on year.
The largest target markets of the Group are Estonia, Finland, Sweden, and Norway, which is why the sales volumes of the Group are strongly affected by the events happening in these markets. Quarterly sales to the Estonian market increased by 1.5 million to 5.1 million euros in a year-on-year comparison. During the reporting quarter the Group continued the production and delivery of prefabricated substations that began in Q2 2020 in the Elektrilevi OÜ framework procurement.
Sales to the Finnish market decreased by 4.9 million to 14.6 million euros in a quarterly comparison and were most affected by the decrease in orders caused by the snowy and cold winter, commencing with new long-term orders, but also some supply difficulties and shortage in materials. In the reporting quarter, 47.5% (Q1 2020: 55.6%) of the Group’s products and services were sold to the Group’s largest market, Finland.
In comparison with the reporting quarters, the revenue earned from the Swedish market increased by 0.4 million to 5.3 million euros. Sweden accounted for 17.4% (Q1 2020: 14.3%) of consolidated revenue in the reporting quarter, being the second largest market.
Norway ranks fourth in the Group’s markets, accounting for 6.1% of the Group’s first quarter revenue. In the first quarter, the Group’s products, and services worth 1.9 million euros were sold to the Norwegian market, which is 3.6 million less than in the same period of the previous year. The decrease in Norwegian revenue was caused by record high orders in the reference period.
Share
The company’s share price on the last trading day of the reporting quarter on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange closed at 8.3 euros. As of 31 March 2021, AS Harju Elekter had 7,387 shareholders. The number of shareholders increased during the reporting quarter by 2,303.
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION | ||||
| Unaudited | ||||
| EUR’000 | 31 March 2021 | 31 December 2020 | ||
| ASSETS | ||||
| Current assets | ||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 2,614 | 2,843 | ||
| Trade and other receivables | 26,663 | 27,226 | ||
| Prepayments | 1,454 | 820 | ||
| Inventories | 21,104 | 18,856 | ||
| Total current assets | 51,835 | 49,745 | ||
| Non-current assets | ||||
| Deferred income tax assets | 569 | 514 | ||
| Non-current financial investments | 12,373 | 11,918 | ||
| Investment properties | 23,375 | 23,605 | ||
| Property. plant and equipment | 24,068 | 22,494 | ||
| Intangible assets | 7,186 | 7,199 | ||
| Total non-current assets | 65,571 | 65,730 | ||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 119,406 | 115,475 | ||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||
| Liabilities | ||||
| Borrowings | 11,317 | 12,056 | ||
| Prepayments from customers | 2,760 | 4,182 | ||
| Trade and other payables | 20,703 | 15,837 | ||
| Tax liabilities | 2,454 | 2,871 | ||
| Current provisions | 35 | 34 | ||
| Total current liabilities | 37,269 | 34,980 | ||
| Borrowings | 7,921 | 7,032 | ||
| Other non-current liabilities | 65 | 66 | ||
| Total non-current liabilities | 7,986 | 7,098 | ||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 45,255 | 42,078 | ||
| Equity | ||||
| Share capital | 11,176 | 11,176 | ||
| Share premium | 804 | 804 | ||
| Reserves | 7,123 | 6,709 | ||
| Retained earnings | 55,211 | 54,858 | ||
| Total equity attributable to the owners of the parent company | 74,314 | 73,547 | ||
| Non-controlling interests | -163 | -150 | ||
| Total equity | 74,151 | 73,397 | ||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | 119,406 | 115,475 | ||
| Unaudited |
| EUR’000 | Q1 | Q1 | ||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||
| Revenue | 30,717 | 34,998 | ||
| Cost of sales | -26,873 | -30,075 | ||
| Gross profit | 3,844 | 4,923 | ||
| Distribution costs | -1,214 | -1,308 | ||
| Administrative expenses | -2,217 | -2,561 | ||
| Other income | 172 | 52 | ||
| Other expenses | -69 | -53 | ||
| Operating profit | 516 | 1 053 | ||
| Finance income | 17 | 37 | ||
| Finance costs | -98 | -102 | ||
| Profit before tax | 435 | 988 | ||
| Income tax | -138 | -285 | ||
| Profit for the period | 297 | 703 | ||
| Profit attributable to: | ||||
| Owners of the parent company | 310 | 728 | ||
| Non-controlling interests | -13 | -25 | ||
| Earnings per share | ||||
| Basic earnings per share (EUR) | 0.02 | 0.04 | ||
| Diluted earnings per share (EUR) | 0.02 | 0.04 | ||
Tiit Atso
Chairman of the Board
+372 674 7400
