(AOF) – Saint-Gobain lost 0.21% to 85.88 euros, but has gained nearly 29% since January 1, one of the best performances on the CAC 40. Yesterday, the board of directors of the specialist in construction materials has unanimously decided to submit to the general meeting of shareholders of June 5, 2025 the renewal of the directorship of Benoit Bazin, with the aim of renewing it in his role as CEO. A partial renewal of the board of directors was also announced, notably with the appearance of Antoine de Saint-Affrique, general manager of Danone.
If shareholders vote in favor of this renewal, the company “will reappoint Benoit Bazin as chairman of the board of directors and general manager of Saint-Gobain, and will maintain the role of Jean-Francois Cirelli as lead director and vice-chairman of the board “, specifies Saint-Gobain in a press release.
Managing Director of Saint-Gobain since 2021, Benoit Bazin, who joined the group in 1999, has become its CEO since the General Meeting of June 6, 2024.
“I have great confidence in the group's operating margin and in the good execution” of the strategic plan launched in 2021 with the ambition of becoming “world leader in sustainable construction”, he declared at the start of the year during his wishes to the press, at the group's headquarters in La Défense. “We are a little more than halfway” of the “Grow and impact” strategic plan launched in 2021 and planned until 2025, he recalled, emphasizing that Saint-Gobain had seen its stock price jump by 46 % in 2023 after record results.
In this context, Saint-Gobain has significantly renewed its asset portfolio and improved its profitability. The stock market appreciated.
Since January 2024, Saint-Gobain shares (+28.65%) have recorded the third largest increase in the rankings of the flagship index of the Parisian market, behind Schneider Electric (+32.66%) and Safran (+37). .59%).
Further increase in operating margin anticipated in 2024
In the third quarter, Saint-Gobain published a turnover of 11.6 billion euros, down 2% year-on-year at comparable structure and exchange rates but “stable” at actual data, in line with expectations.
The company indicated that it anticipated a decline in some of its markets throughout 2024 with, in Europe, a decline in new construction and resilience in renovation.
Regarding France, Saint-Gobain management has specified that it will be necessary to wait “a few more quarters” for the low point to be reached.
“Despite a context which remains difficult in certain markets, Saint-Gobain is aiming for further growth in the operating margin in 2024,” specifies the group.
This will be the fourth consecutive year of increased margins,” noted Stifel, also buying on the file.
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