JENA, Germany—Carl Zeiss Meditec generated revenue of €369.7 million in the first three months of fiscal year 2019/20, which corresponds to an increase of 14.2 percent (adjusted for currency effects: +12.7 percent) compared with the prior-year period of €323.6 million. Both strategic business units achieved significant increases in revenue. Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose as a result of the increase in revenue, to €56.8 million compared with the prior-year period of €48.1 million. The EBIT margin increased further, to 15.4 percent compared with the prior-year period of 14.9 percent.

“We have made a successful start to the new fiscal year and can report encouraging growth in all business segments. Both our traditional equipment business and our consumables business made outstanding contributions to this,” said Dr. Ludwin Monz, president and CEO of Carl Zeiss Meditec AG.

The strategic business unit (SBU) Ophthalmic Devices increased its revenue by 12.5 percent after the first three months of fiscal year 2019/20 (adjusted for currency effects: +11.1 percent), to €269.4 million compared with the prior-year period of €239.5 million. Revenue in the Microsurgery SBU grew by 19.1 percent (adjusted for currency effects: +17.4 percent), to €100.3 million compared with the prior-year period of €84.2 million.

Revenue in the EMEA region grew by 7.0 percent (adjusted for currency effects: +6.9 percent), to €110.7 million compared with the prior-year period of €103.5 million. The core markets Germany and France achieved good revenue growth.

The Americas region increased its revenue by 18.5 percent after the first three months of the current fiscal year (adjusted for currency effects: 15.5 percent), to €109.0 million compared with the prior-year period of €91.9 million. High contributions to growth came from the U.S., as well as positive impetus from Latin America, the company said.

The APAC region also achieved further growth of 16.9 percent (adjusted for currency effects: +15.5 percent), to €150.0 million compared with the prior-year period of €128.2 million. Countries such as China and South Korea once again made the strongest contributions to growth. The Japanese market also recorded good demand.

The operating result (earnings before interest and taxes: EBIT) increased significantly in the first quarter of fiscal year 2019/20, reaching €56.8 million compared with the prior-year period of €48.1 million. The EBIT margin increased from 14.9 percent to 15.4 percent. Adjusted for special effects, this resulted in an increase to 15.7 percent compared with the prior-year period of 15.1 percent.


“In fiscal year 2019/20, we anticipate revenue growth that is at least in line with our markets. In terms of the development of earnings, we expect to achieve an EBIT margin of between 17 percent and 19 percent in the current fiscal year,” said Dr. Monz, confirming the outlook published in December 2019.