Bayer AG Reports Fiscal 2024 Full-Year Results: An Overview
Our sources have just reported on the annual fiscal results for 2024 released by the major German life science and pharmaceutical organization, Bayer AG. Unfortunately, it’s become evident that the company is continuing to struggle with significant financial declines. These fiscal figures reveal several worrying trends in the company’s performance.
Sales and Earnings: A Deep Dive
Bayer’s reported figures show a considerable sinking of their sales by 6.1% on a yearly basis, ending up at a figure of €47,637 million. When compared to the recorded €7,012 million in fiscal 2022, the Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) took a 91.3% nosedive to settle at €612 million for fiscal 2023.
The core earnings per share also took a hit, falling by a worrying 19.5% year-over-year. Even though Q4 of 2024 saw some slight upward movement in both sales and core earnings per share, these small moments of hope are dulled by the concern over the company’s long-term financial health.
Major Declines in Core Segments
The dwindling financial performance echoes across the company’s key segments, as significant declines are observed in the Pharmaceuticals and Crop Sciences sectors.
Fiscal Projections and Dividend Reductions
In an effort to mitigate this financial storm, Bayer’s management has announced they will be slashing dividends from a previous €2.40 down to a mere €0.11. The cut underscores the necessity to conserve cash resources and make earnest strides to reduce standing high debt levels. By the close of fiscal 2023, debt levels had further risen from €31,809 million to an alarming €34,498 million.
Meanwhile, the fiscal guidance for 2024 presents a ambiguity. Expected sales are estimated to range between €47 billion to €49 billion, and the company anticipates a core earnings per share falling somewhere from €4.95 to €5.35. This paints a potential picture of a year-over-year decline.
Should Investors Tread Carefully?
Given this almost bleak outlook, Bayer AG’s future is rife with speculation. Even though the stock appears undervalued when evaluating its core EPS, one cannot ignore the looming uncertainty brought about by the company’s high levels of debt, ongoing legal struggles, and a lack of promising prospects. As such, it might be prudent for potential investors to hold back for now and monitor the situation closely.
