Key Highlights
- Shares of Valmet climbed as high as 28.9% to reach €28.42 during Friday trading, marking the strongest intraday performance since late February
- Second-quarter revenue increased 6% year-over-year to €1.32 billion, surpassing the top analyst projection of €1.27 billion
- Comparable EBITA advanced 6% to €152 million, exceeding both the €140 million consensus and the highest individual estimate of €150 million
- The company’s board initiated a comprehensive strategic evaluation to assess splitting Biomaterial Solutions and Services alongside Process Performance Solutions into two distinct publicly traded entities on Nasdaq Helsinki
- Management maintained its 2026 financial outlook, projecting revenue aligned with 2025’s €5.2 billion level and Comparable EBITA meeting or surpassing €620 million
Shares of Valmet experienced a dramatic rally on Friday, climbing as much as 28.9% to €28.42, representing the highest intraday price point observed since the end of February. The Finnish industrial technology specialist’s remarkable stock performance followed the release of second-quarter financial results that exceeded Wall Street projections on virtually every critical measure.
Revenue for the three months ending in June climbed 6% to reach €1.32 billion, compared to €1.24 billion during the same period last year. This figure surpassed both the analyst consensus estimate of €1.24 billion and the most optimistic individual projection of €1.27 billion collected by Vara Research.
The company’s Comparable EBITA reached €152 million, representing a 6% improvement over the €143 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. This result exceeded the analyst consensus of €140 million and outpaced even the most bullish estimate of €150 million.
Comparable EBITA margin remained stable at 11.5%, unchanged from the prior-year quarter and beating the analyst consensus average of 11.3%.
Management attributed the strong performance to increased revenue generation and efficiency gains realized through the company’s operational restructuring initiatives.
New orders declined 10% to €1.37 billion from €1.52 billion in the year-ago period. Despite representing a year-over-year decrease, this figure exceeded the consensus forecast of €1.28 billion and remained within analyst expectations.
The company explained that the order reduction stemmed primarily from lower capital project bookings within the Biomaterial Solutions and Services division. Management emphasized that while orders decreased compared to last year, they showed sequential improvement from the previous quarter.
Earnings per share registered at €0.40, marginally below the €0.42 consensus but still within the projected range. On an adjusted basis, EPS reached €0.47, exceeding the consensus estimate of €0.45.
Net profit for the quarter totaled €75 million, slightly under the consensus expectation of €76.5 million but comfortably within the forecast range spanning €66 million to €93.2 million.
Board Evaluates Potential Company Separation
Perhaps the more significant development was the board’s disclosure of a strategic evaluation process examining the potential separation of Biomaterial Solutions and Services and Process Performance Solutions into two independent entities, each trading separately on Nasdaq Helsinki.
Chairman Pekka Vauramo emphasized that the board “will only proceed with a separation if we conclude after detailed analysis that separation is clearly in the best interests of our shareholders.”
The company stressed that no final decision has been made. Valmet committed to delivering an update on the strategic review no later than when it releases full-year 2026 financial results.
The company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 financial guidance, expecting net sales to remain consistent with 2025’s €5.2 billion level while targeting Comparable EBITA at or above the €620 million achieved in the previous year.
Leadership Transition in Finance Role
Separately, Valmet announced a significant leadership transition. Pia Aaltonen-Forsell has been named Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Katri Hokkanen, who will depart the position by September 2026.
Aaltonen-Forsell currently serves at Finnair and is expected to commence her new role no later than late January 2027.
Valmet shares had settled at €22.04 in Thursday’s closing session. Friday’s peak of €28.42 still trails the stock’s 52-week high of €32.15.
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