WALDENBURG, Germany, April 25, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Thanks to our excellent figures for fiscal 2007 and continuing good business outlook, R. STAHL group is raising its medium-term targets. The company is now planning on a sales volume of EUR 300 million for 2011 (2007: EUR 211.6 million) after a previous forecast range of EUR 250-300 million. The operating return on sales is to come to 10% after a previous estimate of 8-10%.
For fiscal 2008 as a whole, R. STAHL AG's management expects sales to increase from EUR 211.6 million to EUR 220-230 million. Pre-tax operating earnings are to reach 10% of sales and earnings per share are to improve further.
The figures for the first quarter (ending 31 March) of 2008 confirm the positive business trend of R. STAHL group. According to preliminary calculations, sales grew 14.3% to EUR 54.0 million (previous year: EUR 47.3 million). Order intake advanced 7.4% year-on-year in the period from January to March 2008 compared to the extraordinarily strong Q1/07 to EUR 59.3 million (previous year: EUR 55.2 million). Pre-tax earnings (EBT) reached EUR 6.6 million after EUR 4.5 million the year before, adjusted for the IT divestment.