Clas Ohlson’s financial targets include organic growth of 5 per cent per year and an operating margin of 7-9 per cent annually. In addition, net debt in relation to EBITDA is to fall below two times and the dividend is to comprise at least 50 per cent of earnings per share after tax considering the financial position.
Sales
Clas Ohlson targets to achieve an annual organic sales growth of 5% per year.
In the 2022/23 financial year, total sales increased 3 per cent to 9,024 MSEK (8,784). Organic sales increased by 1 per cent compared with the preceding year. Online sales increased by 9 per cent to 1,054 MSEK (971).
Operating margin
The operating margin is to amount to between 7-9 per cent per year.
In the 2022/23 financial year, the operating margin was 3.4 per cent (8.2). Excluding non-recurring costs related to the closure of the operations in the UK, disposal of IT systems and organisational changes operating margin was 5.1 per cent.
Dividend policy
The dividend is to comprise at least 50 per cent of earnings per share after tax, considering the company’s financial position.
For the 2022/23 financial year, the dividend amounted to 1.50 SEK per share (6.75). The dividend corresponds to a total of 98 MSEK (853), representing 54 per cent (163) of the financial year’s profit after tax. The record date was 12 September 2023. Payment of the dividend from Euroclear Sweden AB was made on 15 September 2023.
Net debt/EBITDA
Net debt in relation to EBITDA, excluding the effect of IFRS 16, to be below two (2) times. Investments are to be made with regards to the company’s financial position, cash flow and strategic activities.
In the 2022/23 financial year, excluding the effect of IFRS 16, net debt in relation to EBITDA was 0.2 times (-0.5)