Bossard group sales increased by 5.3 percent to CHF 575.7 million in the first half of 2026 (prior year: CHF 546.7 million). In local currency, sales growth amounted to 9.7 percent. EBIT increased to CHF 72.9 million (prior year: CHF 55.5 million). This corresponds to an EBIT margin of 12.7 percent (prior year: 10.2 per cent). Group net income rose to CHF 54.7 million (prior year: CHF 38.7 million).

In addition to the improvement of the economic environment and the continued momentum of the growth sectors, the targeted exploitation of market opportunities also made a decisive contribution to the increase in sales. The three market regions developed differently: Europe returned to growth, America recorded accelerated growth momentum and Asia continued its robust growth trajectory. The growth industries of rail, semiconductor and electronics as well as aerospace provided a particularly positive boost. The appreciation of the Swiss franc weighed on revenue performance.

Europe: growth and further strengthening of market position

In Europe, the Group achieved a 4.0 percent sales growth in the first half of the year (in local currency: +5.8 percent) to CHF 349.7 million (prior year: CHF 336.3 million). Thanks to its strong market position, Bossard was able to gain market share and achieve encourag ing growth rates in the aerospace, rail, electronics and mechanical engineering industries. In Switzerland, demand remained subdued.

Growth acceleration in America

In the first half of the year, sales in America increased by 7.9 percent to CHF 123.0 million(in local currency: +17.3 percent). The growth momentum observed since the third quarter of the prior year continued to accelerate in the first half of the year. The passing on of import duties provided further support to sales growth. Growth impulses also came from the fields of mechanical engineering, energy and electromobility. Demand in the agriculture sector also developed positively, thanks to the acquisition of a new customer. Conversely, the appreciation of the Swiss franc against the US dollar had a negative impact on sales development.

Sustained growth momentum in Asia

In Asia, sales rose by 6.8 percent to CHF 103.0 million in the first half of the year (in local currency: +15.0 percent). In India, Bossard continued to benefit from the "Make in India" initiative, while in Malaysia, capacity expansions of global manufacturers, particularly in the semiconductor and electronics industries, had a positive impact. Organic growth also continued in China, especially in the electronics and mechanical engineering industries. The appreciation of the Swiss franc against Asian currencies also weighed on sales performance in this region.

Profitable growth despite challenging market conditions  

Compared to the prior year, gross profit increased by 11.7 percent to CHF 198.3 million. The gross profit margin increased from 32.5 percent to 34.4 percent, which is attributable to targeted measures in purchasing, price adjustments and the product mix. Selling and administrative expenses increased by 2.7 percent from CHF 123.4 million to CHF 126.8 million. The number of full-time equivalents increased by 1.6 percent to 3,178 in the same period. Investments under Strategy 200 were consistently pursued, with a particular focus on digitalization and improving efficiency.

The higher sales and the higher gross profit margin had a positive impact on profitability. EBIT in the first half of 2026 amounted to CHF 72.9 million (prior year: CHF 55.5 million). The EBIT margin amounted to 12.7 percent (prior year: 10.2 percent). Group net income amounted to CHF 54.7 million (prior year: CHF 38.7 million), which corresponds to a return on sales of 9.5 percent (prior year: 7.1 percent).  

Solid financial basis

Total assets increased from CHF 913.7 million to CHF 976.0 million compared to the prior year. The main reason for this was the increase in net working capital as a result of the positive sales development.

Net debt increased slightly since the beginning of the year to CHF 317.3 million (end of 2025: CHF 311.3 million). Gearing – the ratio of net debt to equity – fell from 1.0 to 0.8 compared to the prior year; the ratio of net debt to EBITDA improved to 2.1 (prior year: 2.8). The equity ratio stood at 42.7 percent at the end of June 2026 (prior year: 39.1 percent), underlining the Group's continued solid financing structure.

Cash flow from operating activities increased to CHF 42.1 million in the first half of the year (prior year: CHF 32.7 million). Cash flow from investing activities amounted to CHF 17.4 million (prior year: CHF 77.1 million) and was thus significantly below the prior year's figure. This is primarily attributable to the substantial outflow of funds in the prior year due to the acquisition of the Ferdinand Gross group. Overall, free cash flow amounted to CHF 24.6 million for the first half of 2026 (prior year: CHF -44.4 million).

Progress on track in implementing Strategy 200

The comprehensive renewal of the IT platform as part of the strategic "Operations Engine" initiative aims to increase the Group's overall efficiency. Further roll-outs are planned in Switzerland, Spain and China in the second half of 2026 with the aim of replacing the core system by the end of the year.

Thanks to its "Sales Engine" initiative, Bossard was able to further strengthen its market  position in the growth industries. This led to new business opportunities and customer  acquisitions, especially in the agriculture, aerospace, semiconductor and electronics industries. At the same time, the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) supports sales processes and contributes to further increasing efficiency and transparency within the Group.

Outlook

Overall, the market developments currently being observed give cause for optimism and point to a continued normalization of demand, albeit at a moderate level. At the same time, the economic environment remains challenging due to ongoing geopolitical uncertainties and trade policy developments.

Against the backdrop of the encouraging business development in the first half of the year, Bossard expects organic growth of over 5 percent per year for the full year 2026 in line with its medium-term financial targets. In addition, the Group expects profitability to improve compared to the prior year and considers itself well on the way to achieving its medium term financial targets. Bossard continues to consistently implement Strategy 200 and con tinues to focus on profitable growth.

Source: Bossard Group