May 7, 2025
Fresenius Q1/25: Strong start to 2025 – #FutureFresenius Rejuvenate phase kicked-off with excellent momentum
An overview of key financial figures is available at the end of the release.
Q1/2025: Strong top line and excellent EPS growth, outlook confirmed
- Group revenue1 at €5.63 billion with strong organic growth of 7%1,2 driven by consistent delivery of Fresenius Kabi and a strong performance at Fresenius Helios.
- Group EBIT1 at €654 million, increase of 4%3 in constant currency on the back of strong operating performance at Kabi; absence of energy relief payments weighing on Helios Germany; Group EBIT margin1 of 11.6%.
- Net income1,4 grew by an excellent 12%3 in constant currency to €416 million significantly outpacing revenue growth
- EPS1,4 rose by excellent 12%3 in constant currency to €0.74 resulting from broad based operational strength and lower interest expenses.
- Operating cash flow from continuing operations of €74 million significantly improved year-on-year driven by operating development and increased focus on cash generation.
- Leverage ratio within target corridor: Net debt/EBITDA ratio at 3.0x1,5 showing 80 bps improvement in the last twelve months.
- #FutureFresenius Rejuvenate phase: Pivotal milestone delivered with the reduction of participation in Fresenius Medical Care stake enhancing strategic flexibility while setting basis for long-term profitable growth.
1 Before special items
2 Organic growth rate adjusted for accounting effects related to Argentina hyperinflation.
3 Growth rate adjusted for Argentina hyperinflation.
4 Excluding Fresenius Medical Care
5 At average exchange rates for both net debt and EBITDA; pro forma closed acquisitions/divestitures, including lease liabilities, including Fresenius Medical Care dividend, net debt adjusted for the valuation effect of the equity-neutral exchangeable bond.
Michael Sen, CEO of Fresenius: “We've kick-started 2025 with an excellent performance across the business and confirm our full-year guidance. Organic revenue increased by 7% driven by the consistent delivery of Fresenius Kabi and Fresenius Helios. This along with continued improvements in operations and lower interest costs led to an impressive EPS growth of 12%. Following the reduction of our stake in Fresenius Medical Care, a first and pivotal milestone in our history, we now start the Rejuvenate phase of #FutureFresenius from an even stronger position; this step underscores our commitment to creating long-term value. With a strengthened balance sheet and capital allocation priorities to further invest in our growth platforms, while also increasing our US presence, Fresenius is well positioned to deliver future profitable growth and innovation.”
Outlook confirmed for Fiscal Year 20251
Fresenius Group2: organic revenue growth3 of 4% to 6%, constant currency EBIT growth4 in the range of 3% to 7%
Fresenius Kabi5: organic revenue growth3 in the mid- to high-single-digit percentage range; EBIT margin of 16.0% to 16.5%
Fresenius Helios6: organic revenue growth in the mid-single-digit percentage range; EBIT margin around 10%
Assumptions to guidance: When Fresenius gave guidance in February, the company acknowledged the fast-moving macro-economic and geopolitical environment, resulting in a higher level of operational uncertainty. Fresenius’ guidance continues to reflect current factors and known uncertainties such as potential impacts from tariffs to the extend they can currently be assessed. The guidance does not take into account potential extreme scenarios that could affect the company, its peers, and the healthcare sector as a whole.
1 Before special items
2 2024 base: €21,526 million (revenue) and €2,489 million (EBIT)3 Organic growth rate adjusted for accounting effects related to Argentina hyperinflation.
4 Growth rate adjusted for Argentina hyperinflation
5 2024 base: €8,414 million (revenue) and €1,319 million (EBIT)
6 2024 base: €12,739 million (revenue) and €1,288 million (EBIT)
Fresenius Group – Business development Q1/25
Fresenius entered with excellent momentum into the year with strong organic growth above the top-end of the 2025 guidance. The consistent positive delivery of Fresenius Kabi and the strong performance at Fresenius Helios drove a 7%1 Group organic revenue2 increase to €5.63 billion. Due to a continued strong operating performance, Group EBIT before special items increased 4%3 in constant currency to €654 million despite the high prior-year quarter which included energy relief fundings at Helios Germany. Particularly, a strong performance at Kabi and Helios in Spain contributed to the EBIT growth. The Helios Performance Programme delivers some first contributions with more significant contributions expected in the second half of the year. Earnings per share2,4 rose by an excellent 12%3 in constant currency to €0.74, driven by a broad-based operational strength and improved interest costs against the backdrop of a strong cash flow development and successful deleveraging.
In Q1/25, Fresenius reached a pivotal milestone in #FutureFresenius with the reduction of participation in Fresenius Medical Care and the issuance of an exchangeable bond with Fresenius Medical Care shares underlying. These transactions underline Fresenius' clear commitment to long-term value creation and were the first visible signs of the Rejuvenate phase, which will focus on three key aspects in the coming years:
- Upgrade Core: Fresenius will continue to strengthen its core businesses. This includes, for example, reinforcing R&D pipelines, further increasing financial strength, and enhancing corporate culture.
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Scale Platforms: By strategically scaling its (Bio)Pharma, MedTech, and Care Provision platforms, Fresenius can make an important contribution to meeting the challenges facing healthcare systems around the world. The priorities are:
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Driving innovation at (Bio-)Pharma
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Expand MedTech to provide and connect technology solutions for critical clinical areas such as emergency rooms, operating rooms and intensive care units.
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Accelerate digitization of care provision
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Elevate Performance: Overall, Rejuvenate is designed to help the company achieve higher levels of performance and make Fresenius even more innovative and relevant.
1 Organic growth rate adjusted for accounting effects related to Argentina hyperinflation
2 Before special items
3 Growth rate adjusted for Argentina hyperinflation
4 Excluding Fresenius Medical Care
Operating Companies – Business development Q1/25
Fresenius Kabi delivered a strong start to the year, Biopharma moving close to structural EBIT margin band
- Organic revenue growth of 6%1 clearly driven by the Growth vectors; revenue increased by 5% to €2,146 million; positive Argentina pricing effects continued but less pronounced.
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Growth vectors with strong organic revenue1 increase of 11%: MedTech 7%, Nutrition 7%, Biopharma 40%.
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Nutrition revenue: €612 million, benefited from positive pricing effects in Argentina and the good development in Europe; in the U.S. ongoing successful roll-out of lipid emulsions.
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Biopharma revenue: €190 million, mainly driven by the growth of Tyenne in Europe and the U.S.; launch of Ustekinumab biosimilar Otulfi® in EU and the U.S.; denosumab biosimilars Conexxence® (denosumab-bnht) and Bomyntra® (denosumab-bnht) approved by FDA.
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MedTech revenue: €399 million, driven by strong growth related to the Ivenix pump rollout in the U.S, and broad-based positive development across most regions.
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Pharma revenue: €946 million, flat organic revenue development1 against a high prior-year base; positive pricing development in Europe was offset by a softer development in the U.S. and China.
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China business continued to be impacted by a general economic weakness, price declines in connection with tenders, and hospital budget controls.
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EBIT2 of Fresenius Kabi with 16%3 constant currency increase to €360 million, driven by the strong revenue development of the Growth vectors and ongoing improvements in the cost base. The EBIT-margin2 was very strong at 16.8%, a 170 bps yoy expansion.
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EBIT2 of the Growth Vectors increased 45%3 in constant currency to €184 million against the backdrop of a broad-based positive development; EBIT margin2 at 15.3% increased by 390 bps year-on-year, Biopharma moving close to structural EBIT margin band.
1 Organic growth rate adjusted for accounting effects related to Argentina hyperinflation
2 Before special items
3 Growth rate adjusted for Argentina hyperinflation
- EBIT1 of Pharma increased 5%2 in constant currency to €216 million. EBIT margin1 was strong at 22.9% driven in particular by ongoing cost savings and a strong pricing development in Europe.
Fresenius Helios with excellent organic revenue growth; Helios Performance Programme evolving in-line with expectations.
- Very strong 8% organic revenue growth clearly above the structural growth band driven equally by Helios Germany (8% organic growth) and Helios Spain (8% organic growth); From a year-on-year perspective, Q1 also benefitted from the Easter effect falling in the second quarter this year; revenue before special items increased by 8% to €3,394 million.
- Helios Germany with revenue of €2,046 million; growth mainly driven by price effects: positive development of admissions and case mix.
- Helios Spain with revenue of €1,348 million, driven by strong activity levels and favourable price effects. The clinics in Latin America also showed a good performance.
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EBIT1 of Fresenius Helios declined 4% to €333 million as the support from energy relief funds phased out by the end of Q3/24. This expected softness was partially compensated by excellent profitability at Helios Spain. EBIT margin1 was solid at 9.8% driven by Helios Spain with a margin of 13.1% and 23% EBIT growth.
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EBIT1 of Helios Germany decreased by 23% to €157 million against the high prior-year base which included energy relief funds; EBIT margin at 7.7% improved by 110 bps sequentially (Q4/24: 6.6%).
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Helios performance programme delivers some first contributions; ramp-up in H2/25 with more significant EBIT contributions, as some of the levers are process-related and will take time to deliver and realize benefits.
1 Before special items
2 Growth rate adjusted for Argentina hyperinflation
Note on the presentation of financial figures
- If no timeframe is specified, information refers to Q1/2024.
- Consolidated results for Q1/25 as well as for Q1/24 include special items. An overview of the results for Q1/2025 - before and after special items – is available on our website.
- Growth rates in constant currency of Fresenius Kabi are adjusted. Adjustments relate to the hyperinflation in Argentina. Accordingly, in constant currency growth rates of the Fresenius Group are also adjusted.
- The results of Fresenius Helios and accordingly of the Fresenius Group for Q1/24 are adjusted by the sale of the fertility services group Eugin and the divestment of the majority stake in the hospital Clínica Ricardo Palma hospital in Lima, Peru.
- Information on the performance indicators is available on our website at www.fresenius.com/alternative-performance-measures.
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Conference call and Audio webcast
As part of the publication First Quarter 2025 results, a conference call will be held on May 7, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. CET (7:30 a.m. EST). All investors are cordially invited to follow the conference call in a live audio webcast at www.fresenius.com/investors. Following the call, a replay will be available on our website.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, e.g. changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, results of clinical trials, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, the availability of financing and unforeseen impacts of international conflicts. Fresenius does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release.
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA
Registered Office: Bad Homburg, Germany / Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Bad Homburg, HRB 11852
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Wolfgang Kirsch
General Partner: Fresenius Management SE
Registered Office: Bad Homburg, Germany / Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Bad Homburg, HRB 11673
Management Board: Michael Sen (Chairman), Pierluigi Antonelli, Sara Hennicken, Robert Möller, Dr. Michael Moser
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Wolfgang Kirsch