Hera Board of Directors approves Q1 2022 results
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The first nine months of the year closed with strong growth in revenue and investments, and with all key operating and financial indicators positive, in line with the first two quarters and the targets set out in the Business Plan

Operating and financial highlights
- Revenue rises to 9,365.6 million euro (+10.6%)
- EBITDA stable at 1,037.2 million euro
- Net profit for the period up to 324.6 million euro (+4%)
- Gross operating investments at 666.8 million euro (+18.8%)
- Net financial position at 4,147.2 million euro and net financial position/EBITDA ratio at 2.6x, an improvement compared to September 2024
- Return on invested capital increases, with ROI at 9.9%
Key industrial guidelines
- Organic growth of the multi-business portfolio. The strong performance of the water and waste sectors offsets the absence of the temporary opportunities seized in 2024 within the energy segment.
- Expansion of the operational scope. Strengthening continues through M&A and joint venture initiatives (Ambiente Energia, CircularYard) and through the full consolidation of subsidiaries EstEnergy, Hera Comm, and Aliplast via the acquisition of minority interests.
- Value creation capacity. Solid operating performance and efficient financial management support earnings growth and the profitability of invested capital.
- Ample room for development. Cash generation and financial flexibility provide the basis for new organic and external growth initiatives, consistent with the objectives of the Business Plan.
Today, the Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Executive Chairman Cristian Fabbri, unanimously approved the consolidated quarterly report at 30 September 2025, which confirms a positive structural performance and strong growth in revenues and investments compared to the same period of the previous year.
Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group:

“Over the past nine months, leveraging cash generation and our strong financial flexibility, we have focused on the Group’s structural growth: we have doubled our operating investments aimed at development, increasing investments by almost 20% in both regulated sectors and free-market businesses. We furthermore completed a number of M&A transactions and repurchased the minority stakes in EstEnergy, Aliplast and, at the beginning of October, Hera Comm, all of which are now 100% owned. These persistent growth drivers, combined with the strength of our multi-business portfolio, enabled us to offset the loss of certain temporary opportunities and resulted in an increase in return on equity, now close to 10%. These results demonstrate that we are fully on track to achieve the objectives set out in our Business Plan.”
Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group:
“Strong operating performance and steps towards financial optimisation supported growth in net profit attributable to Shareholders, which rose by 4.2%. The macroeconomic scenario remains complex, but signs of stabilisation in the energy market, combined with our ability to generate cash flow and margins – with the net debt/EBITDA ratio at 2.6x – now allow us to pursue development opportunities with even greater momentum. One non-negotiable principle remains at the heart of our industrial strategy: sustainability must go hand in hand with competitiveness. All our investments in technologies and services aim to strengthen this connection, improving resilience, innovation and the quality of our offer. Only in this way can we reconcile the Net Zero 2050 target with the growth of local areas and the well-being of communities.”
Double-digit growth in revenue, at 9.4 billion euro
At 30 September 2025, the Hera Group’s revenue amounted to nearly 9.4 billion euro (9,365.6 million euro), increasing by more than 894 million euro compared to the same period in 2024, up +10.6%, mainly linked to the increase in energy commodity prices and the higher value of gas and electricity volumes traded.
EBITDA stable at 1,037 million euro
EBITDA for the first nine months of 2025 remained substantially stable with respect to the previous year, amounting to 1,037.2 million euro. Lower margins in the energy areas (–23.3 million euro) were offset by positive results in the water cycle and waste management services. The comparison with 2024 should however take into account the 85 million euro in extraordinary margins recorded that year, linked to temporary non-recurring opportunities (mainly last resort markets and eco-bonuses). Adjusted for these effects, EBITDA at 30 September 2025 shows structural growth coming to 9%, supported by contributions from all the Group’s core businesses, exceeding the 7% average annual growth rate forecast in the Business Plan for the period to 2028.
Profit before income tax above 457 million euro
Ebit for the first nine months stood at 519.9 million euro, down slightly (-0.5%) compared to the same period in 2024, mainly due to the increase in depreciation and amortisation linked to new investments in regulated sectors and waste treatment, while provisions decreased thanks to the normalisation of the energy market. Effective operational and financial management, which saw a 27.5 million euro reduction in expenses thanks to a rationalisation of the debt structure and a reduction in IAS expenses, led to a profit before income tax of 457.2 million euro, up 5.5% compared to the 433.5 million euro seen at 30 September 2024.
Net Profit up 4%
Despite the increased tax rate, at 29% (vs 28% the previous year), net profit at 30 September 2025 reached 324.6 million euro, up 4% compared to 312.1 million euro in the same period of 2024. At the same time, net profit attributable to Group Shareholders also grew, reaching 294.7 million euro (+4.2% compared to 282.9 million euro at 30 September 2024).
Strong growth in operating investments and confirmation of the Group’s financial solidity
At 30 September 2025, operating investments, including capital grants (34.2 million), amounted to 666.8 million euro, up by almost 106 million compared with the same period in 2024 (+18.8%). The areas that benefited most from development and regulatory compliance measures were the integrated water cycle (over 243 million euro in investments, 68 million euro more than the figure seen at 30 September 2024), the waste management area (almost 30 million euro more over one year) and the gas area (+11 million).
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Hera Board of Directors approves Q1 2022 results
The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows growth in revenues and Ebitda, proving the solidity and resilience of the Hera Group’s business model even in this difficult economic context

Financial highlights
-
Revenues at 5,312 million euro (+133.8%)
-
Ebitda at 374.0 million euro (+3.3%)
-
Net profits at 137.8 million euro (-1.8%)
-
Net debt at 3,455.2 million euro, with net debt/Ebitda ratio at 2.8x
-
Good contribution to growth comes from the main businesses, in particular the energy sectors and the waste management area
-
Further development of initiatives for the ecological transition and the circular economy, thanks to state-of-the-art plants and increasingly green services
-
Solid energy customer base, with approximately 3.5 million customers
The Hera Group’s Board of Directors, chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the consolidated results for the first quarter of 2022.
Despite the fact that the results for the first quarter of 2022 were achieved against the backdrop of an extraordinarily difficult international scenario, marked by energy market volatility and geopolitical conflicts, Hera’s management policies – based on its solid and resilient business model – proved to be effective and enabled it to show further growth in results. Following up on the indications contained in the Business Plan to 2025, the Group thus continues to create value for stakeholders while ensuring, at the same time, quality and continuity in services.
As regards regulated services, in November 2021 Atersir definitively awarded the Hera Group the tender for the concession of the integrated water service for 24 municipalities in the province of Rimini, including the capital, with a contract worth approximately 1.7 billion euro. The Hera Group, which was also the outgoing manager, will therefore be responsible for this service from 2022 to 2039. A few weeks later, lastly, Atersir definitively awarded the Hera Group, for a period of time covering 15 years, the tenders for the municipal waste collection services in the Modena and Bologna areas, with a total scope of 1.5 million inhabitants and a value coming to over 2.5 billion.
Revenues at roughly 5.3 billion euro (+133.8%)
In the first quarter of 2022, revenues amounted to 5,312.0 million euro, up sharply from 2,271.8 million euro seen in the same period one year earlier. The energy sectors in particular contributed to this result, showing significant growth due to increased trading and the rise in commodity prices, as well as higher volumes of gas sold as a result of new lots won in tenders and lower winter temperatures. In addition, growth in energy services was related to energy efficiency in residential buildings (insulation bonus and 110% tax super-bonus) and increased activities for value-added services for customers. Revenues from the waste management sector were also up, mainly due to energy production, higher prices in the recovery market and new acquisitions in the industrial market. Lastly, revenues from network services increased, both regulated and for third parties, as did revenues from the public lighting service.
Ebitda rises to 374.0 million euro (+3.3%)
Ebitda went from 362.0 million euro in the first three months of 2021 to 374.0 million euro at 31 March 2022, up 12.0 million euro (+3.3%). The main contributions to this result came from the energy area, up by a total of 6.1 million euro, and the waste management area, up 8.1 million euro, offsetting the slight drop in the other services area. In particular, the activities managed concerning the ecological transition and circular economy were decisive, including energy efficiency services developed for condominiums, a reinforcement of value-added services in the energy sector (from “green” supply, to sales and installation of LED devices, smart boilers and thermostats, and energy diagnostics) and the regeneration of resources, through Group subsidiary Aliplast.
Operating result and pre-tax profit down slightly
Operating results amounted to 220.1 million euro at 31 March 2022, down 1.3% from the 223.1 million euro seen in the first quarter of 2021, mainly due to higher amortisation and depreciation due to changes in the scope of consolidation and higher provisions for bad debts mainly attributable to both last resort and traditional markets as well as the graduated protection service. Financial operations at 31 March 2022 were mainly unchanged, at 29.5 million, compared to 28.8 million euro seen in the first quarter of 2021. This change was caused by lower income from late payment indemnities, partially offset by lower financial charges on long-term debt resulting from debt optimisations. Pre-tax profit amounted to 190.6 million euro, slightly down from 194.3 million euro at 31 March 2021 (-1.9%).
Net profit at 137.8 million euro
Thanks to a tax rate coming to 27.7%, quite similar to the 27.8% rate of the previous year, net profit stood at 137.8 million euro, as against 140.3 million euro in the first quarter of 2021. Profit pertaining to the Group’s shareholders amounted to 126.5 million euro, down from 132.2 million euro at 31 March 2021, due to an increase in the portion attributable to minority shareholders.
Strong growth in operating investments and Group solidity reinforced
The Group’s operating investments, including capital grants, amounted to 129.2 million euro, up 11.1% compared to the previous year, and mainly involved work on plants, networks and infrastructures. In addition, regulatory upgrading was carried out, mainly in the gas distribution sector with a large-scale meter replacement, and in the purification and sewerage sector.
Net financial debt went from 3,261.3 million euro at 31 December 2021 to 3,455.2 million euro at 31 March 2022, mainly due to a change in net working capital, which increased as a result of the energy scenario and the impact of interventions on “rising bills” also in terms of payment by instalments. The net debt/Ebitda ratio remained substantially stable, at 2.8x, confirming the company’s financial solidity.
| Profit & Loss (mln €) |
31/03/2022 | Inc.% | 31/03/2021 | Inc.% | Ch. | Ch.% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sales |
5,312.0 |
|
2,271.8 |
|
+3,040.2 |
+133.8% |
|
Other operating revenues |
100.7 |
1.9% |
100.7 |
4.4% |
+0.0 |
+0.0% |
|
Raw material |
(4,307.8) |
(81.1%) |
(1,209.7) |
(53.2%) |
+3,098.1 |
+256.1% |
|
Services costs |
(573.3) |
(10.8%) |
(646.9) |
(28.5%) |
(73.6) |
(11.4%) |
|
Other operating expenses |
(17.2) |
(0.3%) |
(17.1) |
(0.8%) |
+0.1 |
+0.6% |
|
Personnel costs |
(154.5) |
(2.9%) |
(150.1) |
(6.6%) |
+4.4 |
+2.9% |
|
Capitalisations |
14.1 |
0.3% |
13.3 |
0.6% |
+0.8 |
+6.0% |
|
Ebitda |
374.0 |
7.0% |
362.0 |
15.9% |
+12.0 |
+3.3% |
|
Depreciation and provisions |
(153.9) |
(2.9%) |
(138.9) |
(6.1%) |
+15.0 |
+10.8% |
|
Ebit |
220.1 |
4.1% |
223.1 |
9.8% |
(3.0) |
(1.3%) |
|
Financial inc./(exp.) |
(29.5) |
(0.6%) |
(28.8) |
(1.3%) |
+0.7 |
+2.4% |
|
Pre tax profit |
190.6 |
3.6% |
194.3 |
8.6% |
(3.7) |
(1.9%) |
|
Taxes |
(52.8) |
(1.0%) |
(54.0) |
(2.4%) |
(1.2) |
(2.2%) |
|
Net profit |
137.8 |
2.6% |
140.3 |
6.2% |
(2.5) |
(1.8%) |
|
Attributable to: |
||||||
|
Shareholders of the Parent Company |
126.5 |
2.4% |
132.2 |
5.8% |
(5.7) |
(4.3%) |
|
Minority shareholders |
11.3 |
0.2% |
8.1 |
0.4% |
+3.2 |
+39.3% |
| Balance Sheet (mln €) | 31/03/2022 | Inc.% | 31/12/2021 | Inc.% | Ch. | Ch.% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Net fixed assets |
7,294.8 |
103.4% |
7,308.0 |
109.4% |
(13.2) |
(0.2%) |
|
Working capital |
398.9 |
5.6% |
3.5 |
0.1% |
+395.4 |
+11,297.1% |
|
(Provisions) |
(637.2) |
(9.0%) |
(633.4) |
(9.5%) |
(3.8) |
+0.6% |
|
Net invested capital
|
7,056.5 |
100.0% |
6,678.1 |
100.0% |
+378.4 |
+5.7% |
|
Net equity |
3,601.3 |
51.0% |
3,416.8 |
51.2% |
+184.5 |
+5.4% |
|
Long term net financial debt |
3,644.6 |
51.7% |
3,633.1 |
54.4% |
+11.5 |
+0.3% |
|
Short term net financial debt |
(189.4) |
(2.7%) |
(371.8) |
(5.6%) |
+182.4 |
(49.1%) |
|
Net financial debts |
3,455.2 |
49.0% |
3,261.3 |
48.8% |
+193.9 |
+5.9% |
|
Net invested capital
|
7,056.5 |
100.0% |
6,678.1 |
100.0% |
+378.4 |
+5.7% |
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