2024: the company's growth trend remained encouraging. Sales were in line with expectations and earnings exceeded the forecast.
2025: despite somewhat challenging conditions, Diehl expects further growth and a significant increase in sales.
Despite the challenging macroeconomic situation, Diehl again performed well overall and recorded strong growth in the reporting year. The Group's sales rose to €4,695.8 million and thus were €813.2 million, i.e., 20.9% above the previous year's value (€3,882.6 million). EBIT increased significantly from €257.6 million to €460.3 million. The company continued its encouraging growth trend in 2024, though its individual corporate divisions showed varying developments. Important targets were achieved in the reporting year. At the end of the year, sales were in line with expectations and earnings exceeded the forecast.
The number of employees increased by 1,015 persons - i.e., 5.7% - to now 18,680 employees due to the continued rise in business volume, particularly in the Defence (816) and Aviation (460) corporate divisions.
Outlook for 2025 and further development
In the reporting year, the Diehl Group once again demonstrated its overall strong potential for continuous and significant sales growth in the coming years through further broad-based growth. This primarily applies to Diehl Defence, Diehl Aviation and Diehl Metering. These individual corporate divisions face different challenges along the way, such as a ramp-up, restructuring or further strengthening of profitability, which are demanding change processes that require a great deal from those involved. In addition, there are ongoing uncertainties in planning due to the sometimes erratic changes in the global political environment, the continuing weakness of the global economy and the progression of the war in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Nonetheless, the Diehl Group remains optimistic about the future and is committed to maintaining its growth trend. This also continues to include the unconditional review of all activities with regard to their long-term prospects and the strategic expansion of the technology and product portfolio. Diehl's decentralized structure, which has been a crucial formula for success, will be strengthened even further, as will the Group's focus on major future issues, such as digitalization, AI and sustainability. Given the expected difficult conditions, 2025 will also be a challenging year for the Diehl Group. Considering the Diehl's Group well-established market position and the diverse portfolio of its five corporate divisions, there is a strong belief in the company's ability to maintain steady and sustainable growth, taking into account both the potential opportunities and risks. Diehl expects sales to increase to more than €5 billion this year as well as a moderate improvement in earnings.