LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - French industrial gases giant Air Liquide impressed investors with its full-year results with record margin improvements driving annual profits higher as the company lifted its short-term guidance.
The company reported a "very solid performance" in 2024, according to chief executive François Jackow, with both top and bottom lines improving despite a "subdued" macro context.

"The strength of our diversified model and the agility of our teams are key assets that enable us to continue to deliver strong performance regardless of the market environment," Jackow said.

Group revenues were up 2.6% on a comparable basis at €27.1bn, with all businesses contributing to growth.

Meanwhile net profits were 7.4% higher at €3.3bn, helped by a 150 basis-point increase in the operating margin to 19.9%. The company said its transformational plan, announced last year, generated record efficiencies of €497m.

Looking ahead, the company is now targeting an increase of at least 200bp in margins for 2025 to 2026, "representing an unprecedented total increase of +460 basis points excluding the energy impact over five years (2022-2026)", it said.

Shares were nearly 4% higher at €1679.52 by 1234 in Paris.

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