Henkel shares rise on strong Q2, margin expansion

Investing.com -- Henkel's (ETR:HNKG_p) stock saw an uptick on Tuesday, buoyed by its second-quarter results and strong gross margin growth. 

The company’s performance, highlighted by its latest update, reflects a solid improvement in both quality and investment strategies.

At 4:26 am (0726 GMT), Henkel was trading 0.5% higher at €78.43.

Henkel reported an increase in is gross margin for the first half of 2024, rising by 600 basis points. This growth outpaced other companies in the sector, with Unilever (LON:ULVR) coming closest at +420 basis points. 

The robust margin growth has allowed Henkel to increase its investment in marketing and distribution, a positive indicator of the company’s strategic focus.

“Very strong gross margin growth in 1H fuelled a substantial increase in marketing investment ... just the sort of thing we like to see,” said analysts at RBC Capital Markets in a note. 

Despite a 190 basis point rise in marketing and distribution expenses due to ongoing brand investments, the company has managed to improve its gross margin significantly.

“The key new development is the acceleration on mid-long term guide now becoming 'mid term',” said analysts at Jefferies in a note.

“That includes Grp op margin c16% (v VA Cons 14.7% 2026e). If the market moves that to 'mid term' hope, that would be a c6% EPS upgrade to FY26 earnings,” they added. 

Henkel’s operating margin for 1H24 was 14.9%, marking a 340 basis point improvement from the previous year, with an operating profit of €1.61 billion. 

The company maintains its full-year guidance of 2.5-4.5% organic sales growth and an operating margin of 13.5-14.5%.

In the second quarter, Henkel saw a 2.8% increase in sales, with a 2.9% growth in the first half of the year. While Home Care volumes contracted by 0.8% in Q2, Adhesive Technologies grew by 3.4%. 

Pricing varied, with Adhesive Technologies experiencing a -0.6% impact in Q2, while Home Care saw a positive pricing impact of +4.2%.

Persisting inflation and significant declines in consumer confidence and employment—potentially worsened by geopolitical tensions such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine—could negatively impact Henkel’s sales and margins, RBC added. 

On the other hand, a quicker-than-expected resolution of the Ukraine conflict, leading to reduced inflation and improved economic conditions, could have a favorable effect on Henkel’s financial performance.