GEA Group AG reported mixed first-quarter 2026 results, with order intake and EBITDA before restructuring expenses coming in ahead of consensus, but earnings per share falling short of analyst expectations as cash generation weakened markedly. The German manufacturer of equipment for the food and beverage industry reaffirmed its full-year targets.
Orders and revenue
Order intake for the January-March period rose to 1.45 billion, exceeding the analyst consensus mean of 1.42 billion and up from 1.41 billion a year earlier. On an organic basis - excluding the effects of portfolio changes and currency translation - order intake grew 6.4%, accelerating from 3.4% in the first quarter of 2025.
Revenue reached 1.27 billion, matching the consensus mean of 1.27 billion and representing a 1.2% increase from the year-earlier period. Organic revenue growth was 5.3%, compared with 0.9% in Q1 2025.
Profitability and EPS
EBITDA before restructuring expenses increased 3.9% to 205.9 million, above the consensus mean of 205.2 million. The corresponding margin expanded by 42 basis points to 16.2% from 15.8% a year earlier, topping the consensus mean of 16.1%.
Earnings per share were 0.61, below the consensus mean of 0.63. On a before-restructuring basis, earnings per share were 0.64, up from 0.62 in the year-ago quarter.
Cash flow and liquidity
Free cash flow moved sharply into negative territory, falling to negative 190.3 million from negative 48.8 million a year earlier. Cash flow from operating activities was negative 124.7 million versus negative 17.8 million in Q1 2025, while cash flow from investing activities was negative 65.6 million compared with negative 31 million a year earlier.
Net liquidity decreased to 162.4 million from 378.9 million at December 31, 2025.
Backlog and divisional performance
The order backlog stood at 3.50 billion as of March 31, up 8.1% from 3.24 billion a year earlier. The book-to-bill ratio improved to 1.14 from 1.12.
Division-level results were mixed. Farm Technologies posted the strongest revenue increase among GEA's divisions, with revenue up 21.3% to 202 million and organic growth of 26%. By contrast, Nutrition Plant Engineering revenue declined 7.8% to 399.5 million, with organic revenue down 4.8%; EBITDA before restructuring expenses in that division fell 20.8% to 31.8 million.
Geopolitical note and guidance
The company said the Iran conflict, which began in February 2026, had "no noticeable impact on business performance" in the quarter.
GEA confirmed its full-year 2026 outlook, targeting organic sales growth of 5% to 7%, an EBITDA margin before restructuring expenses of 16.6% to 17.2%, and a return on capital employed of 34% to 38%.
Analysis: The quarter shows momentum in orders and margin expansion, while working capital and cash flow dynamics caused a material deterioration in liquidity. Division-level contrasts highlight areas of acceleration and weakness within the business. The company maintained its published full-year financial targets.