Subscription Required

By Gordon Smith

Oct. 30, 2023, (c) Leeham News: MTU Aero Engines has confirmed its guidance for 2023 and posted higher adjusted sales and earnings in the third quarter. The numbers are the first reported by the German company since it revealed last month that it would take a €1bn knock from the Geared Turbofan (GTF) inspection program.

The exceptional charges dragged the engine manufacturer into the red with an EBIT loss of €410m for the first nine months of 2023. The comparative earnings figure for last year was €331m, representing a sharp 224% fall.

In September, the firm said well-documented powder metal issues with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM GTF would knock revenue and earnings for the year by around €1bn. During an earnings call on September 27 attended by Leeham News, MTU CFO Peter Kameritsch said he expected this figure to be slightly above the €1bn mark. Without adjustments, revenue was €3.7bn for the first nine months of 2023. Adjusted operating profit was €597m, up a third from the €448m posted a year earlier.

Commenting on the latest numbers, CEO Lars Wagner said: “MTU posted organic growth in all business segments. However, exceptional charges for the Geared Turbofan inspection program affected our figures.”

Adjusted net profit reached €138m, up from €113m a year earlier. Adjusted EBIT – which is the company’s chosen profitability metric – grew to €192m from €158m, representing a margin of 12.7%. Kameritsch acknowledged that “favorable exchange rate effects” provided a welcome boost to the numbers, alongside the company’s “positive revenue mix and a good cost base”.