CTT Systems AB (publ) (STO:CTT)
Sweden flag Sweden · Delayed Price · Currency is SEK
118.40
+4.40 (3.86%)
May 12, 2026, 5:29 PM CET
← View all transcripts

Earnings Call: Q3 2025

Oct 24, 2025

Operator

Welcome to the CTT Systems Q3 2025 report presentation. For the first part of the presentation, participants will be in listen-only mode. During the questions and answers session, participants are able to ask questions by dialing #KEY5 on their telephone keypad. Now, I will hand the conference over to the speakers, CEO Henrik Höjer and CFO Markus Berg. Please go ahead.

Henrik Höjer
CEO, CTT Systems AB

Thank you and good morning. Welcome to CTT Systems AB's quarterly earnings call. We will present the Q3 financial results and the outlook going forward. Starting with some highlights, I want to highlight that we report strong system sales numbers, up 80% so far in 2025, driven mainly by PrivateJet and OEM. In Q3, we delivered the first anti-condensation system to Jet2.com, with a total of 146. I'm also proud to report that we at NBAA in Las Vegas last week signed a letter of intent to extend collaboration with Boeing Business Jets, offering a cabin humidification system as a baseline configuration across the BBJ portfolio. It strengthens our outlook going forward as both ACJ and BBJ now promote cabin humidification. Finally, we continue to extend the partnership with Liebherr Aerospace to include the new COMAC C929 aircraft model.

If Liebherr is selected to supply the environmental control system, CTT Systems AB will supply humidifiers and dehumidifiers to Liebherr. The C929 is designed with a total of six humidifiers and two dehumidifiers as standard. The development is expected to start next year. Looking at the financial performance in short, comparing the third quarter with the same quarter last year, net sales increased 29% from SEK 57 million to SEK 74 million. At fixed exchange rates, revenues increased by 39%. FX had a SEK 7 million negative net sales impact in the quarter. EBIT amounted to SEK 19 million compared with SEK 15 million. The EBIT margin was 25% versus 26%. We have initiated cost savings to contract a lower dollar rate and improve the EBIT margin. Fully implemented, an additional 200 bps would have strengthened the EBIT margin in the quarter to 27%.

Earnings per share increased to SEK 1.15 versus SEK 0.98. CTT Systems AB generated a strong operating cash flow of SEK 33 million versus SEK 8 million. Bridging the net sales from the same quarter last year, PrivateJet added SEK 12 million, OEM added SEK 2 million, and retrofit added SEK 2 million. A breakdown of total sales shows that aftermarket sales accounted for 59%, and 37% came from system sales. If we look at order intake and backlog, order intake was SEK 48 million compared to SEK 69 million. Backlog in the quarter ended at SEK 129 million compared to SEK 47 million. I now hand over to Markus for more detailed financials.

Markus Berg
CFO, CTT Systems AB

Thanks, Henrik, and good morning. I will start with the EBIT margin. Compared with last year, EBIT increased SEK 4 million to SEK 19 million, driven SEK 15 million by higher sales volumes, offset with SEK 5 million from negative currency effects and SEK 5 million from negative sales mix. CTT has initiated cost reduction measures. Fully implemented, the EBIT margin in the third quarter would have been 27% instead of 25%. Let's move on and look at the cash flow. Strong operating cash flow at SEK 33 million compared to SEK 8 million last year, driven by EBITDA of SEK 20 million and plus SEK 16 million from working capital. Operating cash flow is expected to exceed EBITDA in the second half of the year due to positive working capital. Let's continue by looking at the net debt.

Net debt amounted to SEK 2 million compared to minus SEK 30 million in Q3 last year. Cash closed at SEK 45 million. In addition, CTT has SEK 57 million in available credit facilities. Equity ratio at 73%, same level as Q3 last year. Return on capital employed at 24%. We expect to improve our financial position, driven by strong cash flow, pushing down net debt to negative. Let's move on and look at the year-to-date numbers. In the first three quarters, net sales decreased 5% but increased 1% if adjusting for currency. System sales increased SEK 29 million, or 80%, to SEK 66 million. Aftermarket sales were down SEK 40 million due to FX and tough comparable numbers from inventory buildup in 2024 and inventory reduction in 2025. CTT also had a very strong spare business in 2024. An important remark is that end-user demand for consumables is stable.

Fact is that distributor sales to airlines increased. The situation with inventory excess is transitory. We predict that we will enter 2026 with normal levels. Margins expect to improve in 2026, driven by higher sales and full impact of cost reductions. I now hand back to Henrik for the outlook.

Henrik Höjer
CEO, CTT Systems AB

Thanks, Markus. CTT will not give a specific guidance for the next upcoming quarters going forward. This is due to unusual large currency movements: read U.S. dollar versus Swedish krona, shorter lead times from order to delivery, and changed buying behavior among distributors. All in all, this makes it more difficult to predict net sales in the short term. That said, we would like to flag that there is a risk that distributors will keep their inventories down before the end of the year. It's not good for our sales and earnings, but it's a one-off effect. If looking at aftermarket sales, trailing 12 months are at SEK 193 million. We had inventory buildup in 2023 and 2024, and in 2025, we suffered from inventory reductions. The underlying aftermarket shows stable growth, reflecting last year's slow increase in the number of systems installed.

When system sales now have started to take off and continue into the next few years, the aftermarket is expected to grow faster. Given that Airbus and Boeing reached their production targets, we expect the installed base of humidifiers to grow by more than 20% per year. We are continuously working with our aftermarket distributors to adapt and improve customer value, as well as visibility and measures to reduce order volatility between the quarters. The outlook for CTT's OEM business is strong, given successful aircraft ramp-up by Airbus and Boeing. Orders and delivery schedules indicate deliveries to pick up significantly from Q1 2026. CTT's growth pace primarily depends on Airbus and Boeing's ability to scale production and deliver wide-body aircraft. More new-built aircraft will drive CTT's OEM sales. In addition, CTT aims for higher growth rates by improving ship set content.

CTT will end 2025, beginning 2026, start to recognize sales impact from higher A350 selection rates. In addition to the line fitting the flight deck humidifier, A350 operators to a greater degree now select humidifiers for crew rest and business class. This will gradually result in a higher average ship set value on new-built A350s. The PrivateJet business in 2025 is heading for a strong sales revival. Airbus Corporate Jets front-running by promoting humidification for ACJ320, the ACJ220, and the ACJ330. We have a strong sales pipeline in VIP, although there is some uncertainty when projects will start. We are still targeting to enter the large cabin business jet market. SEK 100 million opportunity per year in first sales. As stated before, we need to be endorsed and included by the offerings by the OEMs.

As you can see in the picture, we continue to address Boeing Business Jets, Bombardier Global, Dassault Falcon, and Gulfstream. Not yet there, but I can conclude solid progress in our discussions with Bombardier together with Liebherr Aerospace. As I mentioned previously, we have entered the next phase with Boeing Business Jets. On this slide, you can see a Boeing photo released from NBAA in Las Vegas last week. The intention is further collaboration, offering a cabin humidification system as a baseline configuration across the BBJ portfolio. This is an important step for CTT Systems AB. It strengthens our outlook going forward as both ACJ and BBJ promote cabin humidification. The value and benefits behind this decision also apply to larger cabin business jets. In 2025, we will break a three-year losing streak with zero anti-condensation retrofit deliveries.

We started to deliver the first Jet2.com systems in Q3, and another 25 out of the 146 are scheduled to be delivered until the end of 2028. We need additional orders, and we need to obtain availability to install the system in new aircraft. We focus on retrofit customers in Europe to drive and put pressure primarily on Airbus, where we have better momentum. Together with Jet2.com and other airlines, we try to convince Airbus that it should be possible to install our green tech system in new aircraft before delivery, either as line-fit or provisioning for post-delivery modification. As part of this effort, we also have a trial system with a major low-cost carrier in six A321s and outstanding quotation at three European airlines. I don't expect to close another big retrofit deal in 2025. Let's summarize.

We are in a good position to grow from where we are now. OEM deliveries are set to take off, driven by higher aircraft production rates. The outlook based on delivery schedules from Airbus and Boeing indicates a steep ramp-up in our deliveries starting end of this year and beginning of next year. Boeing is back on track, and I expect a swift ramp-up to 10 aircraft per month in 2026. Demand is there for higher output. CTT Systems AB plans already for 12 to 14 aircraft per month. Airbus A350 is following right behind. PrivateJet is establishing a higher net sales baseline. Although we will have variation between quarters, the sales pipeline is strong, and revenue should trend higher.

PrivateJet is also in good conditions to further increase sales with BBJ now making cabin humidification standard, following and passing ACJ, sending a strong signal to the rest of the PrivateJet OEMs. Our aftermarket sales are expected to increase compared to 2025. Finally, we will deliver better EBIT margin and profit in 2026, driven by higher sales. After a few years of delay, CTT is about to begin the next phase of growth. With that said, I now hand over for Q&As.

Operator

If you wish to ask a question, please dial #KEY5 on your telephone keypad to enter the queue. If you wish to withdraw your question, please dial #KEY6 on your telephone keypad.

Albin Barnevik
Equity Research Analyst, ABG

Good morning, Henrik and Markus. This is Albin Barnevik from ABG standing in for Karl Bokkvist. I have a few questions, if I may. First off, regarding your comment on shorter lead times, does that comment refer to all sales categories or only OEM segments, for example?

Henrik Höjer
CEO, CTT Systems AB

Good morning, Albin, and thanks for joining us. The shorter lead times actually refer to all our businesses. It includes OEM, but with the kit systems on ACJ and now soon also on BBJ, we also make that valid for the PrivateJet market. In the aftermarket, we also see that all our distributors are reflecting the airlines with shorter lead times and smaller batches.

Albin Barnevik
Equity Research Analyst, ABG

All right, noted. Based on your current view on the customer selection rates, will there be an increase in content per aircraft already in 2026, or should we see that effect coming more towards the second half of that year?

Henrik Höjer
CEO, CTT Systems AB

Now, based on the selection rates that Airbus is communicating with us, we see that this selection rate increase should start already in the first half of 2026.

Albin Barnevik
Equity Research Analyst, ABG

All right, great. Considering the destocking among distributors and the comment you flagged regarding the changed buying behavior, what is the risk of the destocking continuing into 2026? Are the levels now better balanced? How do you see that going forward?

Henrik Höjer
CEO, CTT Systems AB

When we look at the stock levels at our distributors, it's been a quite struggling year this year, and we knew that we entered 2025 with high stocks at our distributors. We have, during the year, together with them, worked them down with a small hiccup mid this year when one of our suppliers changed our distribution strategy, making them need some more stock to actually have our things at more stocks around the world to better serve the customers. That raised the stocks a little bit even further. That is now worked down, and it should be worked down to a level where they actually need to start to refill end of this year or beginning of next year.

Albin Barnevik
Equity Research Analyst, ABG

All right, thank you. Can you give any comments on the growth in the installed base and how we should think about the aftermarket sales?

Henrik Höjer
CEO, CTT Systems AB

Yes. When now Boeing and Airbus are on steady numbers in the production rates per month, and they are increasing quite steep next year, when they hit those numbers, our forecasting is that we should grow the installed base with more than 20% per year going forward.

Albin Barnevik
Equity Research Analyst, ABG

All right, great, thank you. Lastly, if I may, on the profitability, currency can fluctuate, of course, but can you go a bit more into detail what actions you have taken to raise margins?

Markus Berg
CFO, CTT Systems AB

I can take that one. Good morning, Albin. CTT Systems AB is both working with increases in prices to customers and cost savings, of course. That is cost savings in both raw material, cost of goods, and fixed costs, such as consultants, personnel, and IT. There are some examples of improving the margins.

Albin Barnevik
Equity Research Analyst, ABG

All right, great. I think that was all for me. Thank you very much.

Henrik Höjer
CEO, CTT Systems AB

Thank you, Albin, and have a good day.

Operator

There are no more questions at this time, so I hand the conference back to the speakers for any written questions and closing comments.

Markus Berg
CFO, CTT Systems AB

We have received one question from the activity feed to Henrik. How do the plans for 777X look going forward?

Henrik Höjer
CEO, CTT Systems AB

Good question. I mean, we are following what Boeing is saying, and there is some indication that there is a delay in the certification process that should take place during next year, 2026. They have not changed the first delivery dates, still in 2026. We're quite positive they're making progress. Let's wait and see what they say at their earnings call next week on the 30th of October. We're quite confident in the plans on the 777X, but let's listen and see what Boeing says next week. There are no more questions in the feed, so let's close this down. Before closing, I would like to take the opportunity to repeat what I wrote in my CEO comment. There are bright spots, such as new sales starting to pick up with an increase of 80% so far in 2025.

Looking ahead to next year, I can state that the drivers for our growth have strengthened further during the quarter. After a few years of delay, CTT Systems AB is about to begin the next phase of growth. Thanks for listening, and have a good day.

Powered by