Comparison of forecast with actual business developments

Due to the negative development in Russia, which was already foreseeable in the middle of the financial year, and the negative effects resulting from the cancellation of the future collective agreement at Real, the Management Board of METRO AG adjusted its forecast on 20 April 2018.

The comparison with the forecast for financial year 2017/18 continues to refer to METRO including the hypermarket business.

For the past financial year, METRO had forecast a growth rate for total sales of at least 0.5% (originally 1.1%) based on the assumption of stable exchange rates. With an increase of 0.7% in local currency, METRO met this target. Like-for-like sales were forecast to grow by slightly more than 0.5% (originally also slightly more than 0.5%). With an increase of 0.7%, this target was met as well.

The Management Board of METRO AG expected a slight increase in (adjusted for and excluding earnings contributions from real estate transactions) (originally by around 10%) compared to the figure of €1,436 million in financial year 2016/17. Adjusted for negative currency effects of €56 million, METRO’s EBITDA excluding earnings contributions from real estate transactions was €16 million or 1.2% higher than in the .

METRO thus met its adjusted sales and earnings targets in financial year 2017/18.

EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation)
Profit or loss before interest result, income taxes, depreciation/amortisation/impairment losses/reversals of impairment losses on property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and investment properties. This key figure serves the purpose of comparing companies with accounting systems that follow different accounting rules.
Glossary
Currency effects
Currency effects result from situations where identical quantities of currency units are translated into another currency at differing exchange rates.
Glossary
Previous year
Period of 12 months, usually cited as reference for statements in an annual report.
Glossary