Hera: energy efficiency in the home
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The Consolidated Half-Year Financial Report as at 30 June reports a 16% increase in net profit and a 56% rise in investments, higher than in the previous period. The operational and financial soundness has been confirmed and the targets for the current year with regard to external growth have already been achieved in the first half. The results achieved at the end of June will enable the multi-utility to further enhance its infrastructure in the second half of the year and seize new development opportunities.

Economic and financial highlights
- Revenues adjusted* at €6,494.6 million (-3%)
- EBITDA adjusted* at €715.5 million (+7.5%)
- Net profit attributable to shareholders adjusted* at €227.6 million (+15.8%)
- Investments of €652.5 million, up 56%
- ROI adjusted* at 9.4% and ROE adjusted* at 10.9%
- Net financial position at €4,248.6 million, with a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.75x
The Hera Group's Board of Directors, chaired by Executive Chairman Cristian Fabbri, today approved the consolidated results as at 30 June 2026, which show a positive structural performance, with margins and net profit up compared to the same period of the previous year. The growth is even more significant if the results are compared with the first half of 2025 adjusted.
The results achieved highlight the Hera Group's ability to operate effectively even in a macroeconomic and geopolitical environment characterised by elements of uncertainty. The continuation of international tensions and the volatility of the energy markets did not affect operations, which recorded an improvement in gross margins and operating profit or loss compared to the first half of 2025, confirming the solidity of the business model and the constant generation of value.
The group’s business strategy, based on a balance between regulated and free-market activities, remains a key element for addressing the challenges anticipated for the remainder of 2026. The diversification of businesses and the ability to promptly seize the opportunities offered by the market make it possible to pursue the industrial growth and sustainability objectives defined by the Business Plan, confirming the solidity and flexibility of the Group's business model.
With reference to growth opportunities through M&A, during 2026 the multi-utility further strengthened its presence, especially in waste management, through the acquisitions of the Sostelia Group, one of Italy's leading operators specialising in industrial and civil water treatment technologies and services, and of control of Servizi Ecologici Ambientali (SEA), which operates a multifunctional special waste storage and treatment facility located in Camerata Picena (Ancona).
Cristian Fabbri, Executive Chairman of the Hera Group, stated:

"The results achieved by the Hera Group as at 30 June 2026 confirm the strong impetus for growth provided by the Business Plan. The more than 7% increase in EBITDA on a like-for-like basis compared with the first half of 2025, is supported by all business lines and highlights the strength of the business portfolio, despite a complex external environment. The acceleration in investments, which exceeded 650 million euro, up by more than 50% compared to 2025, testifies to the Group’s ability to continue its path of external growth through M&A and infrastructure development, as reflected by the fact that 65% of EBITDA is generated by infrastructure businesses, 44% of which are regulated. The significant increase in development capex, which exceeded 800 million euro over the last 18 months, is only partially reflected in the results achieved in the first half of the year and constitutes a visible reserve of value to support future growth. The increase in net profit, in line with analysts' estimates before the IRAP surcharge, and the 9.4% return on invested capital highlight the Group's consistent focus on value creation.”
Orazio Iacono, CEO of the Hera Group, stated:
“In the first half of 2026, the Group achieved further improved economic and financial results compared to the corresponding period in 2025, despite a macroeconomic environment characterised by persistent elements of uncertainty. Net profit attributable to shareholders amounted to 227.6 million euro, up 15.8% compared to the like-for-like figure for the first half of 2025. This trend confirms the Group's ability pursue growth and transferring it down to the bottom line of the P&L. The acceleration of investments, both organic and for the M&A of Sostelia and SEA, was supported by the solid operating cash flows, exceeding 700 million euro in the first half of 2026. The strength of the capital structure is confirmed by a net financial position/EBITDA ratio of 2.75x, a figure that also incorporates the effects of the annual dividend recent distribution and shows ample room to fund further growth opportunities."
Revenues adjusted at €6.5 billion
Revenues for the first half of the year amounted to €6,494.6 million, compared to €6,645.0 euro as at 30 June 2025, mainly due to the reduction in volumes in the last resort markets and Consip.
EBITDA adjusted up 7.5%
EBITDA as at 30 June 2026 stood at 715.5 million euro, up 7.5% compared with the first half of 2025 adjusted thanks to the contribution of all business areas. 65% of EBITDA adjusted is generated by the two infrastructure business areas, Networks and Waste.
EBIT adjusted rises
EBIT as at 30 June 2026 rose to 386.5 million euro, recording double-digit growth (+14.7%) when compared with the adjusted value for 2025. This result is due to normalised provisions, which offset higher depreciation and amortisation related to infrastructure growth.
Net profit attributable to shareholders adjusted up 15.8%
Despite the increase in the tax rate to 29.5%, compared with 29.0% in the first half of 2025, due to the increase in IRAP for the 2026-2027 period introduced by the Bollette Decree, adjusted net profit as at 30 June 2026 rose to €245.8 million, up 13.5%. Likewise, adjusted net profit attributable to the Group's shareholders increased to €227.6 million (+15.8%), compared with the adjusted result for the first half of 2025. Excluding the IRAP surcharge, net profit attributable to the Group's shareholders adjusted would amount to €232 million, in line with analysts' consensus estimates. All these results once again confirm value creation for all stakeholders, fully in line with the expectations set out in the Business Plan.
Investments up 56% and further strengthening of the Group's solidity
In terms of capital expenditures and investments, the Hera Group also recorded significant growth compared to the previous year, confirming its commitment to expanding infrastructure and strengthening the resilience of the assets under management, and to promoting technological evolution in support of the green and digital transition.
In particular, operating capital expenditures in the first half of 2026, including capital grants, rose to 510.5 million euro (+23.3%) compared to 414 million euro at 30 June 2025.
In addition to operating capital expenditures, there were investments for M&A relating to Sostelia and SEA amounting to 142 million euro.
The net financial position stood at 4,248.6 million euro, up from 3,944.4 million euro as at 31 December 2025, with a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 2.75x, confirming the financial strength and flexibility of the multi-utility, which will be able to continue to seize further growth opportunities, both organic and through M&A.
Sustainability: shared-value EBITDA is growing, reaching almost 60% of the total
In the first six months of the year, shared-value EBITDA, relating to business activities that also contribute to the objectives of the Global Agenda, rose to 435 million euro, accounting for 59.9% of total EBITDA, up one percentage point compared with the same period in 2025.
The Hera Group has continued to work intensively to combine its growth strategies with the generation of value in the medium and long term, as confirmed by the numerous milestones achieved: from the inclusion of Hera’s stock in the FTSE4Good Index Series for the seventh consecutive year, for its active commitment to sustainable development, to first place in the ESG Identity Corporate Index 2026, obtained for the integration of ESG factors into its strategy, governance and corporate culture.
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* To provide a clearer view of the Group's underlying performance, the "Adjusted" figures include certain adjustments to the 2025 and 2026 reported results, as shown in the table attached. For further details, please refer to the section "Reconciliation of special items with the financial statements" in the Half-Year Financial Report.
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Hera: energy efficiency in the home
Over 11 years, with 507 projects, with a saving of 753 thousand toe (tonnes of oil equivalent), equal to annual consumption of 529 thousand households and benefits in terms of tackling climate change. The multiutility looks to 2020, aiming to reduce consumption by 5%. All the available data in the Value to Energy report, dedicated to the Hera Group's commitment to energy efficiency

Giving "Value to energy", because the advantageous effects of the circular economy model are actually visible in energy savings. And this is one of the objectives of the Hera Group which, on Monday 18 February, celebrates International Energy Efficiency Day. An imperative that is also the title of the sustainability report in which the Hera Group details the results obtained over the last eleven years on the energy efficiency front. Now in its fourth edition, the report - verified by an independent certification body - analyses all the aspects which embody the multiutility's commitment to energy savings and efficient energy use, focusing on environmental and economic sustainability and to the interests of the local areas and more than 4 million customers.
Decarbonisation is actually crucial for tackling climate change. Both the multiutility's energy efficiency initiatives and the other projects for promoting the production of renewable energy are implemented with this in mind.The Hera Group also contributes to 6% of the national white certificates target, by incentivising energy efficiency and financing projects with measurable and certified savings.
The figures are telling: 507 projects have been implemented in the field by the Group over the last 11 years to save energy (of which 133 in companies in the local area), with 753 thousand toe (tonnes of oil equivalent) saved, corresponding to annual consumption of 529 thousand households, and 1.4 million tonnes of avoided CO2, equivalent to approximately one million less cars in circulation (with 10,000 km of travel).
In order to reach these energy efficiency objectives, Hera therefore makes all its know-how available to local companies, by supporting them in carrying out energy analyses, with the objective of encouraging the implementation of energy efficiency initiatives. In the Bologna area alone, the last two projects, which concerned the construction and management of a new technology-energy hub for a company which produces bioplastics and a new cooling plant for a well-known company that produces salami and cold pork meat, generated a total energy saving of 413 toe per year.
The confirmation of the multiutility's general objective of cutting its energy consumption by 5% by 2020 (with respect to 2013 consumption) should also be emphasised, following the increase from 3% to 5% which occurred last year. These initiatives generated a saving of over Euro 8 million, of which Euro 4.5 million relating to the water service, with subsequent benefits on citizens' bills.
The results have been made possible by integrated efficiency programmes, implemented in the field continuously by the Hera Group, first and foremost within its plants and offices and which, in 2017 alone, enabled the company to improve the heating energy efficiency index of its premises by 6.3%.
As regards plants, an important example is on show in the water sector, in which Hera implemented 115 efficiency initiatives, for a total of 2,876 toe saved.
Significant efforts were expended in the public lighting sector, in which Hera manages more than 518 thousand lighting points scattered throughout Italy, 71% low consumption and 51% with consumption optimisation, augmented by 65% of traffic lights with led lights. Stratagems which, in 2017, contributed to an energy saving of 10.2%.