Amsterdam, the Netherlands – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA), a global leader in health technology, today provided an update on the third quarter 2019 financial results for the Group, which will be reported on October 28, 2019.

Group sales for the quarter are expected to amount to approximately EUR 4.7 billion, reflecting a strong 6% comparable sales growth with all businesses contributing. Comparable order intake growth in the quarter is expected to be flat on the back of strong 11% growth in the third quarter of 2018.

Group Adjusted EBITA for the quarter is expected to be around EUR 583 million, or 12.4% of sales, compared to 13.2% in Q3 2018. The continued Adjusted EBITA margin improvement of the Diagnosis & Treatment and Personal Health businesses was more than offset by a 4.5 percentage point decline in the Adjusted EBITA margin of the Connected Care businesses (to 11.3% of sales), and a shortfall of around EUR 20 million of license income in the segment Other.

“We continue to see good growth momentum across our businesses,” said Frans van Houten, CEO of Royal Philips. “However, while I am pleased with the operational performance improvements in the Diagnosis & Treatment and Personal Health businesses, it is disappointing that margins declined in the Connected Care businesses. This was due to increasing headwinds from tariffs and a delay in the impact of the mitigating actions, factory under-coverage as production levels were lowered to reduce inventory, and an adverse product mix impact. We will drive further strong mitigating actions to accelerate the improvement in these businesses.

Philips has delivered three consecutive years of at least 100 basis points annual Adjusted EBITA improvements. Given the overall significant headwinds and the underperformance of the Connected Care businesses, we expect that the full year 2019 Adjusted EBITA margin improvement for the Group will be 10 to 20 basis points. For 2020, we expect to deliver a 4-6% comparable sales growth and an Adjusted EBITA margin improvement of around 100 basis points.”

Net income from continuing operations is expected to amount to approximately EUR 210 million in the quarter, which will include a charge of EUR 78 million related to a goodwill impairment in Connected Care.

Philips will discuss today’s announcement on a conference call from 09.30 to 10:00 am CEST, October 10, 2019.

Comparable sales exclude the effect of currency movements and acquisitions and divestments (changes in consolidation). Philips believes that comparable sales information enhances understanding of sales performance; Adjusted EBITA is defined as Income from operations (EBIT) excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, restructuring charges, acquisition-related costs and other one-time charges and gains.