
Thales has successfully reinforced its business portfolio and delivered on its operational commitments over the last 5 years
Defence reinforced as a core market
Aerospace strengthened both organically and through M&A
Cyber & Digital scaled as a new core technology segment
Ground Transportation divested
Robust commercial performance
Solid increase in profitability
Outstanding cash flow performance
Building on its unique technological platform, the Group will implement the following strategic priorities
Leverage premium portfolio to deliver profitable growth
Reinforce premium positioning
Differentiate through disruptive technology
Enhance employer attractiveness
Strengthen its ESG leadership
Thales is setting new financial targets for the 2024-28 period
Organic sales growth rate (CAGR over 2024-2028, base year 2023) of 5-7%1
EBIT margin improvement to 13-14% in 20282
Average FOCF3 conversion of 95-105%
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is hosting today its 2024 Capital Markets Day with investors and financial analysts, in-person and through a live webcast accessible via the following link.
Following the acquisitions of Gemalto, Imperva and Cobham AeroComms, Thales has successfully transformed its business portfolio into a unique global technology enabled Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital company, with strong and differentiated leadership positions across businesses.
Patrice Caine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pascal Bouchiat, Senior Executive Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer, and members of the Executive Committee of Thales will provide details of the Group's key new strategic priorities, medium-term financial objectives and the characteristics that make Thales' unique positioning, able to deliver accelerated long-term profitable growth.
Since our last Capital Markets Day in 2019, Thales has successfully navigated an unprecedented and challenging geopolitical environment. I would like to thank all our teams for their continuous commitment and our customers for their trust. Through these times, we have improved the quality of our businesses with active portfolio management, strengthening our core Defence and Aerospace portfolio while transforming and scaling up our Cyber & Digital business.
The strong platform we have built with unique leadership positions across our three markets, our ability to innovate and anticipate technological disruptions and our strong pipeline of new premium products & services enable us to look forward to the next chapter of accelerated and sustainable growth with confidence.
I am delighted to be today with investors and financial analysts and set out our roadmap to deliver attractive, profitable growth over the next five years, with our strengthened portfolio. I look forward to interacting with our key stakeholders.
Patrice Caine, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Strategic priorities
Looking ahead, Thales will implement the following strategic priorities:
Leverage premium portfolio to deliver profitable growth, building on our leadership position in fast growing segments. 80-90% of Thales' revenues are exposed to fast growing markets. Thales' long-term visibility on these market segments along with a diversified customer base provides confidence in Thales' ability to execute on its growth ambition.
Reinforce premium positioning, combining notably delivery excellence, operational superior performance, customer driven innovation, user-friendly design and experience and best in class after-sales' support. Thales will continue to differentiate itself through innovation in these fields that deliver higher value to customers driving growth in our market share and better pricing.
Differentiate through disruptive technology, embracing technology disruptions and staying ahead of the competition, with 4bn allocated to research and development ( 5bn by 2028). This critical mass enables the Group to work on a wide spectrum of technology and projects, such as trustworthy AI, 6G, and quantum technology. This will enable Thales to strengthen its undisputed technological leadership in the future.
Reinforce employer attractiveness, by investing in attracting and retaining the best talents everywhere and becoming a Learning Company. The Group's purpose, thorough leadership, and partnerships with top universities, academies, and renowned scientists set it apart. Its contribution to major societal challenges makes it the destination of choice for the brightest minds.
Strengthen its ESG leadership, delivering on its ambition to become an ESG leader and protecting our societies, people, and the planet. Thales unique portfolio of solutions can help solve some of the major societal issues and build a future we can all trust. Thales has joined the CAC 40 ESG Index in September 2024 and will unveil its new 2030 flagship ESG objectives in 2025.
A clear roadmap for each business
Relying on 1) the execution of each of the above strategic priorities, 2) the unprecedented visibility Thales is currently benefiting from across its portfolio and 3) solid growth prospects, the Group has set up a clear and ambitious 2028 roadmap for each of its businesses:
In Defence: Thales intends to leverage its extended delivery capabilities to capture high market growth. Sales organic growth CAGR4 over 2024-2028 should reach 6 to 7% and EBIT margin 13%.
In Avionics: the Group will grasp the advantage of an enhanced state of art product portfolio to address strong market demand. Sales organic growth CAGR4 over 2024-2028 should reach 5 to 7% and EBIT margin 13 to 14% in 2028.
In Space: Thales is focused on restoring the business profitability to exceed the Group's WACC, while considering selective business opportunities. Sales organic growth CAGR4 over 2024-2028 should reach