Hera BoD approves 1Q 2020 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 BoD approves 1Q 2020 results
The consolidated quarterly report at 31 March shows growth in results, thanks to the contribution coming from the Group's main business areas. Value continues to be created in the areas served, while Hera has proactively introduced numerous measures supporting stakeholders while facing the Covid-19 emergency currently affecting the country.

Financial highlights
- Revenues at 2,055.8 million euro (+5.9%)
- Ebitda at 349.2 million euro (+5.6%)
- Net profit at 130.3 million euro (+0.5%)
- Net financial position at 3,229.1 million euro
Operating highlights
- Good contribution to growth coming from main businesses, the energy and waste management sectors in particular
- Solid customers base in energy sectors, with a strong rise to 3.3 million customers, thanks to the recent partnership with Ascopiave
- A wide range of activities introduced to protect and sustain all stakeholders, first and foremost customers, with favourable conditions granted for paying bills
Today, the Hera Group’s new Board of Directors, which came into office on 29 April 2020 and is chaired by Tomaso Tommasi di Vignano, unanimously approved the Group’s consolidated operating results for the first quarter. Improvement was seen over the same period in 2019, thanks to the contribution coming from internal growth and M&As, which proved able to more than offset the effects of the mild winter temperatures and the health emergency that has struck the country.
The financial solidity that has always marked this multi-utility saw further improvement during the quarter, and allowed many measures to be proactively introduced, quite early, when the emergency had not yet affected the areas served. These measures are aimed at ensuring not only continuity in the Group’s services, but also support and protection for all stakeholders, above all employees, suppliers and customers, for example in the favourable conditions granted for paying bills.
In general, the results reached confirm the validity of the Group’s business model, which balances regulated and free market activities and, in line with the indications provided in the Business plan, promotes growth, sustainability and innovation, which have proven to be effective competitive levers in creating value for the areas served and all stakeholders.
The main changes in the Group’s scope of operations compared to the first quarter of 2019 include the acquisition last May of Cosea Ambiente, the company that manages the urban and assimilated waste service owned by 20 municipalities in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine area, including a ten-year grant for managing the Cosea Consorzio landfill in Gaggio Montano; the acquisition in July of Pistoia Ambiente’s waste treatment plants in Tuscany; and, lastly, in December the finalisation of the partnership between Hera and Ascopiave, which acting through EstEnergy created the largest energy operator in North-Eastern Italy and at the same time led to a reorganisation of the two Groups’ gas distribution activities.
Revenues reach over 2 billion euro
In the first quarter of 2020, revenues amounted to 2,055.8 millioneuro, up compared to the 1,940.4 million seen in the same period of2019. This result was largely sustained by changes in the scope of operations, which more than offset lower revenues for electricity and gas trading, production and sales, heat management and district heating, as well as commissions in the water service. Revenues in the waste management sector increased.
Ebitda rises to 349.2 million euro
Ebitda went from 330.8 million euro in the first three months of 2019 to 349.2 millionat 31 March 2020, showing an 18.4 million(+5.6%) increase. This growth in Ebitda is due in particular to the performance seen in the energy areas, which were up by 17.2 million euro overall, mainly owing to the entry of the companies belonging to the EstEnergy Group, as well as the waste management area, while the water cycle area showed a slight drop.
Operating result increases and pre-tax profit remains stable
The net operating result also increased to 211.7 millioneuro at 31 March 2020, up compared to the 205.0 million seen at the same date in2019 (+3.3%). A 7.6 million euro change occurred in financial operationsat 31 March 2020, coming to 28.7 millioneuro, mainly due to the imputed costs involved in the put option concerning the amount held by Ascopiave and lower profits from joint ventures, mainly due to the consolidation of EstEnergy. Pre-tax profits came to 183.0 millioneuro, essentially in line with the 183.9 million seen in the first three months of2019.
Net profit rises to 130.3 million (+0.5%)
Net profit at 31 March 2020 increased to 130.3 millioneuro, up 0.5% over the 129.7 million seen one year earlier. Profits pertaining to Group Shareholders, instead, came to 124.4 millioneuro, with a slight increase compared to the 124.2 millionrecorded for the first quarter of2019. These results bear the effects of a28.8% tax rate, an improvement compared to the 29.5% seen one year earlier, thanks in particular to the Group’s commitment to making investments in technological and digital transformation, along the lines of Utility 4.0.
Over 118 million in investments; net financial position improves
Overall investments in the first three months of 2020 amounted to 118.6 millioneuro, as against 92.7 millionin the same period of the previous year, and mainly went towards interventions on plants, networks and infrastructures, in addition to investments concerning an intensive meter substitution and the purification and sewerage areas. Total investments also include financial investments coming to 27.2 million.
Thanks to a positive cash flow generation, net financial debt, coming to 3,229.1 millioneuro, showed a roughly 45 millioneuro drop compared to December 2019. The Net debt/Ebitda ratio settled at 2.93x, confirming the Group’s financial solidity (2.44x excluding the EstEnergy put option). The average time to maturity of overall debt is more than 6 years.
| Profit & Loss (m €) |
31/03/2020 | Inc.% | 31/03/2019 | Inc.% | Ch. | Ch.% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 2,055.8 | 1,940.4 | +115.4 | +5.9% | ||
| Other operating revenues | 109.0 | 5.3% | 121.0 | 6.2% | (12.0) | (9.9%) |
| Raw material | (1,035.4) | (50.4%) | (1,024.6) | (52.8%) | +10.8 | +1.1% |
| Services costs | (627.2) | (30.5%) | (556.7) | (28.7%) | +70.5 | +12.7% |
| Other operating expenses | (12.5) | (0.6%) | (13.1) | (0.7%) | (0.6) | (4.6%) |
| Personnel costs | (147.3) | (7.2%) | (142.9) | (7.4%) | +4.4 | +3.1% |
| Capitalisations | 6.8 | 0.3% | 6.7 | 0.3% | +0.1 | +1.5% |
| Ebitda | 349.2 | 17.0% | 330.8 | 17.0% | +18.4 | +5.6% |
| Depreciation and provisions | (137.5) | (6.7%) | (125.8) | (6.5%) | +11.7 | +9.3% |
| Ebit | 211.7 | 10.3% | 205.0 | 10.6% | +6.7 | +3.3% |
| Financial inc./(exp.) | (28.7) | (1.4%) | (21.1) | (1.1%) | +7.6 | +36.1% |
| Pre tax profit | 183.0 | 8.9% | 183.9 | 9.5% | (0.9) | (0.5%) |
| Tax | (52.7) | (2.6%) | (54.3) | (2.8%) | (1.6) | (2.9%) |
| Net profit | 130.3 | 6.3% | 129.7 | 6.7% | +0.6 | +0.5% |
| Attributable to: | ||||||
| Shareholders of the Parent Company | 124.4 | 6.0% | 124.2 | 6.4% | +0.2 | +0.2% |
| Minority shareholders | 5.9 | 0.3% | 5.5 | 0.3% | +0.4 | +7.3% |
| Balance Sheet (m €) | 31/03/2020 | Inc.% | 31/12/2019 | Inc.% | Ch. | Ch.% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net fixed assets | 6,876.5 | 108.7% | 6,846.3 | 108.9% | +30.2 | +0.4% |
| Working capital | 96.8 | 1.5% | 87.0 | 1.4% | +9.8 | +11.3% |
| (Provisions) | (650.0) | (10.3%) | (649.1) | (10.3%) | (0.9) | +0.1% |
| Net invested capital | 6,323.3 | 100.0% | 6,284.2 | 100.0% | +39.1 | +0.6% |
| Net equity | 3,094.2 | 48.9% | 3,010.0 | 47.9% | +84.2 | +2.8% |
| Long term net financial debt | 3,379.7 | 53.4% | 3,383.4 | 53.8% | (3.7) | (0.1%) |
| Short term net financial debt | (150.6) | (2.4%) | (109.2) | (1.7%) | (41.4) | +37.9% |
| Net financial debts | 3,229.1 | 51.1% | 3,274.2 | 52.1% | (45.1) | (1.4%) |
| Net invested capital | 6,323.3 | 100.0% | 6,284.2 | 100.0% | +39.1 | +0.6% |