Internet service provider United Internet reports a predominantly positive development in the first half of the year. A special feature of its current figures: The stock corporation excludes the Energy segment, which is up for sale, from its balance sheet.
Adjusted sales rose by 4.3 percent to 3.2 billion euros, according to the Group. Adjusted EBITDA, i.e. earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, also grew: the service provider reported an increase of 2.0 percent to 675.6 million euros. This figure already includes the start-up costs for the 1&1 mobile network amounting to 130 million euros. Expenses for this increased by 18% compared to the same period last year.
The company recorded a decline in adjusted operating profit (EBIT). In addition to the costs of the network expansion, the company cites increased depreciation, in particular on investments in the expansion of the fiber-optic network at 1&1 Versatel and the 1&1 mobile network amounting to just under € 297 million, as the reason for this. EBIT amounted to € 317.8 million and was thus almost € 30 million below the previous year’s figure. Earnings per share fell slightly from EUR 0.61 to EUR 0.59.
Forecast confirmed
The company cited the growth in fee-based customer contracts as a concrete success. These had increased by one percent to 29.31 million.
United Internet AG confirms its forecast for the full year 2025. Excluding the “Energy” business field –, which is up for sale, it expects – to increase its consolidated sales to EUR 6.45 billion with EBITDA of EUR 1.35 billion.
In addition to 1&1, the Group’s brands with over 10,000 employees include email and web hosting services such as GMX, Web.de, Ionos and Strato. In March 2024, the company decided to discontinue the operation of De-Mail and to sell its electricity and gas tariff business, which it has operated since 2016.
(dgi)