Fincantieri S.p.A. ($FCT)

Good afternoon. This is the Chorus Call conference operator. Welcome, and thank you for joining the Fincantieri First Quarter 2026 Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] At this time, I would like to turn the conference over to Mr. Folgiero, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, please go ahead, sir. [Technical Difficulty]

Apologies for the technical issue, we will start again. So we are pleased to present another strong set of results, which further demonstrate Fincantieri's ability to capitalize on favorable macro trends while maintaining financial discipline and ensuring consistent execution of its backlog. This strong momentum builds upon a remarkable 2025 and provides a solid foundation to support the group's growth strategy. We achieved a solid revenue performance despite the unfavorable comparison with a particularly strong Q1 2025, which benefited from the order for 2 PPA units for the Indonesia Navy. Revenues visibility for the rest of the year and beyond is very clear, supported by the group's significant long-term backlog. We delivered a further material improvement in EBITDA margin of approximately 1 percentage point year-on-year, reaching 7.4% in Q1 2026, reflecting a remarkable increase in profitability across all segments and the strong commitment on operational efficiency, cost discipline and execution excellence. On the commercial front, we achieved a new record high total backlog at over EUR 74 billion, with the new contracts further extending the visibility on deliveries up to 2039. The value of the contract signed in the first 4 months of the year already exceeded the 2026 annual target of approximately EUR 11 billion envisaged in 2026, 2030 business plan. Our deleveraging path continues with net debt adjusted EBITDA last 12 months ratio increasing to 1.1x, significantly improving compared to the full year 2025, supported by cash generation over the period and by the EUR 15 million capital increase completed in February 2026. On top of this robust set of results, fully confident on the group's growth trajectory, we are raising our 2026 guidance. Let's turn now to Page 4. Going deeper into our commercial performance, we achieved another strong set of results in the first quarter 2026, with a book-to-bill at 1.6x and an all-time high total backlog of EUR 74.2 billion, increasing by 17.4%, compared to the end of 2025 and guaranteeing approximately 8.1 years of work. The backlog in Q1 2026 reached EUR 42.7 billion. The new significant orders announced in the first quarter of the year which I mentioned before, are included in the soft backlog and will feed into the order intake and backlog as they become effective in the coming months. Let's now move to Page 5. To have a look at our order book and deliveries. In the first 3 months of 2026, we delivered 5 units, 2 crews, 3 offshore vessels from 5 different shipyards. This is an impressive result, also considering that this year, we expect to deliver a record of 8 cruise vessels. In April, we also delivered the first multipurpose support vessel Triton to the Italian Navy following an extensive upgrade program on the original part offshore ship. The vessel is designed to ensure maximum operation of versatility with specific reference to the underwater domain. As we speak, we have a full slate of deliveries scheduled for the medium, long term, offering a clear and profound visibility up to 2036 with 94 units in order book. Considering the new order for 3 cruise ships for Princess Cruises signed in April 2026, we have extended the visibility up to 2039. Let's now move to Page 6 for an overview of our commercial performance. In the first months of 2026, we signed important contracts exceeding the target set for the full year, confirming the group's impressive commercial momentum. As mentioned, these are still subject to financial and other typical conditions, therefore, not yet reflected in the order book, but with a clear visibility in their conversion into hard backlog. We confirm our leadership in the construction of increasingly advanced and sustainable cruise ships with new orders signed for 3 new LNG power Voyager class vessels for Princess Cruises in addition to the contract signed in the first quarter of 2026 with Viking for and NCLH for 5 cruise ships. We continue to strengthen our position in the U.S. with an important contract covering materials and engineering for the first 4 units under the 35 ship medium landing ship program. This step precedes a future award of construction contracts and represents an important step in the evolution of our long-standing partnership with U.S. Navy. But last but not least, in the underwater business. In February, we signed the largest order ever for us for the supply of lightweight torpedoes for the Royal Saudi Naval Force, not yet included in the backlog. In addition, we signed 2 key strategic agreements for the production of a new class of high-speed, multi-mission Unmanaged Surplus Vessel developed by Saildrone, marking a concrete step forward in final industrial strategy to integrate and manage solution into its defense portfolio. And the strategic agreement with KAYO to establish a joint venture in deconstruction and maintenance of Naval vessels in Albania, also pursuing commercial opportunity for smaller Naval vessels in international markets, in which Fincantieri will act as prime contractor, opening up new geographical markets, new product lines and expanding our production. The strong commercial momentum supports our balanced strategy, which maximizes the value growth opportunities intrinsic in all of our business segments. In Cruise, we continue to benefit from our performed backlog, which gives us very long-term visibility and enables us to tie in our supply chain for the long haul. This impressive backlog is also significantly derisked, thanks to a very high proportion of sister ships and only 7 prototypes in our order book. The full saturation of our shipyard capacity optimizes our fixed costs and increases our margins. The margin growth in Cruise is clearly visible in the overall results of the first quarter 2026. We are also seeing a positive evolution on prices with revenue per gross ton increasing by more than 20% between 2026 and 2030, as well as an improvement in payment condition and recent contracts. In defense market backdrop remains extremely supportive. As we have mentioned recently, we expect approximately EUR 5 billion new orders in the coming months, also supported by the progressive allocation of the safe funding facility. More broadly, we continue to see structural growth in naval defense also in the medium, long term with a macro trend, which is decoupled for the new -- from the news flow on ongoing conflicts. The current tension on energy supply and prices has sparked a demand for energy security, in particular, in Europe, which provides significant opportunities in offshore, both for wind and oil and gas. It also promotes the strategic importance of developing regional value chains, additional growth opportunity for Vard are emerging in defense, including the evolution of the Vard line mothership concept, as I mentioned, and the Nordic defense programs as well as in commercial segments such as cable layers and next-generation icebreakers. Finally, in underwater, rising geopolitical tensions and the growing need to protect critical energy and communication infrastructure are accelerating demand for advanced subsea solutions, threat mitigation technologies and nonconventional capabilities in high value-added premium margin market. There are also significant opportunities in commercial applications in underwater telecommunications, deep see mining, energy at sea and aquaculture, which we intend to capture. This positive outlook, coupled with the solid performance delivered in Q1 gives us full confidence in our trajectory and enables us to rise our 2026 guidance. We expect revenue in a range of EUR 9.3 billion to EUR 9.4 billion; EBITDA in the range of EUR 700 million to EUR 710 million; with an EBITDA margin confirmed at approximately 7.5%. Net profit in the range of EUR 140 million to EUR 180 million. And finally, net debt adjusted EBITDA ratio of approximately 2x, which equals to 1.3x including the capital increase completed in February 2026. Turning to Page 9 for more color on nonorganic growth plans. As we communicated, the EUR 500 million capital increase that we successfully completed last February is intended to support our selective inorganic growth strategy through M&A opportunities, in particular, in relation to unconventional underwater solutions, where we see significant space to expand our position and in technologies that will enable us to accelerate our product and process innovation. The underlying funding strategy is consistent with the one we applied for the acquisition of us, was the capital raise, was used to fund the acquisition of the division. Such track record in M&A in recent deals like Remazel and WASS is strong in light of the growth profile of these companies that have been highly accretive to the group's performance. We are currently looking at a number of potential targets, and of course, we will update you in the coming months. Now I will hand the call over to Giuseppe, who will discuss our financial results for the first quarter of 2026 in more detail. Please, Giuseppe.

Thank you, Pierroberto. I'm on Page 11 right now. Good afternoon, everybody. For the first 3 months of 2026, order intake stands at a solid EUR 3.4 billion not fully comparable to the extraordinary record level we had in the first quarter 2025, that level included the 4 NCL Jumbo cruise ships, but nonetheless, significantly higher than the average Q1 order intake over the last 5 years. As Pierroberto mentioned before, we also signed several major contracts in the first months of 2026, i.e., up to now for a value of over EUR 12 billion. and these are reflected in the soft backlog are still subject to financing and other typical terms and conditions of the sector. And of course, they will feed into the order book and backlog in the coming months. Again, on the first quarter, the book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.6x, reflecting the sustained growth in Fincantieri's commercial pipeline, supported by strong demand across all core business segments. Shipbuilding order intake landed at EUR 3.2 billion with 2 AIDA cruise ships contracts becoming effective and underwater and Equipment Systems and Infrastructure order intake increased by 24% and 62%, respectively, compared to the first quarter of 2025. On Page 12. Our total backlog, reaches yet another all-time high at EUR 74.2 billion, increasing 17.4% compared to year-end 2025 and this is driven by strong growth in the soft backlog, thanks to the new contracts signed and solid order intake. In detail, backlog grew to EUR 42.7 billion from EUR 41.1 billion in the first quarter of and soft backlog increased to EUR 31.5 billion compared to EUR 22.1 billion as of the end of the first quarter of last year. We deliver 5 units from 5 different shipyards, 2 for cruise and 3 from offshore. On financials on Page 13. Revenues reached EUR 2.1 billion in the first quarter of 2026, and this is compared to EUR 2.376 billion in the prior year period. Of course, the year-on-year comparison is queued as Q1 2025 was particularly strong, benefiting from the order of the 2 PPAs for the Indonesian Navy that Pierroberto mentioned before. Excluding this effect, revenue in the first quarter of 2026 recorded an increase of 6% year-on-year. In particular, cruise revenues grew by almost 17%, driven by backlog execution, and the progress of construction programs already acquired. The year-on-year decrease in defense is mainly due to the positive contribution from the sale of the 2 PPA that I mentioned before, this is in the first quarter, but it also reflects the impact on 2026 revenues of the redefinition of the constellation program for the U.S. Navy announced in November 2025, which leads to a shift forward in revenues expected in the United States. Of course, those revenues are linked to the new contracts expected to be finalized during the year, including the order for 4 units under the medium landing shape program you already saw first order being acquired by Fincantieri in the U.S. in the recent months. Offshore revenues reached EUR 360 million, up by a little over 12% compared to the same period of 2025 and the underwater segment posted a very strong increase in revenues, up 43.3% year-on-year, driven by the consolidation of WASS Submarine Systems and of course, it's solid performance, and the accelerated advancement progress of the U212NFS submarine program for the Italian Navy. Last but not least, Equipment Systems & Infrastructure segment also recorded continued growth with revenues up almost 9% to EUR 309 million, mainly driven by the Mechatronics segment and the Infrastructure segment, respectively, 24.6% and 7.1%. On Page 14, EBITDA remarkable margin increased to 7.4% from 6.5% reported in the same period of the year before. And this, of course, more than compensates the effect of the Indonesian Navy order on the first quarter of 2025. In detail, shipbuilding EBITDA margin increased significantly to 7.5% versus 6.8% in the first quarter of 2025, mainly supported by the cruise segment, and this is due to better pricing dynamics and efficiency initiatives and maximization of the operating leverage. Offshore underwater EBITDA both increased reaching margins of 5% and 17.1%, respectively, showcasing the growth trajectory of both businesses. The Equipment Systems & Infrastructure segment delivered a strong contribution to the group's profitability with EBITDA rising by 40.2% and EBITDA margin reaching 6.4%, 1.5 percentage point higher than the 4.9% in the first quarter of 2025. Main drivers are a significant contribution from the electronics and digital products, plus 155%. The Infrastructure segment, plus 27% and a double-digit profitability in the Mechatronics segment at 10.7%. Deleveraging accelerating, thanks to cash generation on Page 15, as at March 31, 2026, as we said before, adjusted net debt strongly improved compared to the end of 2025, reaching EUR 771 million. versus EUR 1.3 billion at the end of fiscal year 2025. This value includes noncurrent financial receivables as well as the effect of the capital increase of February 2026. Excluding the effect of the capital increase adjusted net debt improved to EUR 1.3 billion, almost supported by cash generation and over the period. Leverage ratio improved to 1.1x compared to 1.9x recorded as of year-end. And of course, the 1.1 is 1.8, excluding the effect of the capital increase. Net working capital is negative at EUR 705 million, slightly decreasing compared to the end of last year, where it was negative at EUR 634 million. We did increase in construction contracts and client advances, EUR 206 million, partially compensated by an increase in trade receivables and a decrease in trade payables. With that, I will now hand the call back to Pierroberto for his concluding remarks.

Thank you, Giuseppe. Let me now summarize our key takeaways on Page 17. We reported solid financial performance in the first quarter of 2026, with a strong margin improvement driven by the positive contribution from all our business segments. Commercial performance marks a new milestone with a new record total backlog and new contracts signed, providing profound visibility beyond the next 10 years. Thus, securing a clear and structural operating leverage for the years to come. Our strategic defense business best positions us to capitalize on an acceleration in demand driven by the current geopolitical scenario with the near-term opportunity pipeline of approximately EUR 5 billion expected in the coming months. The strong set of results achieved allowed us to raise our full year guidance and reinforcing our commitment to the growth trajectory envisaged in the new 2026-2030 business plan. Finally, the successful completion of the capital increase in February 2026 demonstrates strong market confidence while providing additional firepower to pursue our strategy of selective M&A. With that, we are now open to take your questions.

[Operator Instructions] First question is from Antonio Gianfrancesco, Intermonte.

The first one, because looking at broader picture, the group today benefits from a very large total backlog, stronger execution in crews with margins providing particularly accretive even in a phase where the defense contribution is temporarily lower. But the point is -- my point is exactly in this because just coming back for a moment on the defense order pipeline? Because at the Capital Markets Day, you indicated around EUR 5 billion of potential order over 6 months. And now you are reiterating this target on upcoming months. So my impression is that visibility on some of these opportunities remain very high especially on domestic programs and U.S. I think the main variable is more related to timing than to the existence of the demand. So I was wondering how we should think about the risk that most of this order intake slips beyond of the original 6-month window and whether, let's say, a delay in the award of contracts could represent a risk for the achievement of the 2028 plan targets. The second question is on the offshore segment. We have seen a softer performance in first quarter in terms of order intake. So can you help us better understand how how you see the outlook evolving from there, in particular, which geographies and end markets are you currently monitoring more closely for new opportunities. And what could drive a reacceleration of ongoing business going forward?

On your first question, I'm sure that when we say 6 months, you understand that we are saying in the very short term, then you have to finalize contracts. There are a number of fulfillment. So I would be very, I would say, uncomfortable with someone that is counting the seconds, the days. And -- so on your first question, I believe it's a no-brainer. If we are saying that there are EUR 5 billion of discussions that are close to the finalization, it means that there are name and surnames that we have disclosed. As far as the Italian Navy is concerned, so we made explicit reference to the DDX, the destroyer to the LSS, which are the logistics ships. We made disclosure on Clara. So all offers that are on the table and in the process of being, I would say, finalized. And again, only these 3, if you know the metrics, and if you are knowledgeable about the short-term and long-term ministry of defence expenditure, you will know that it's not. There's no risk there. It's a matter of finalizing paperwork. Again, then I don't want to cut a long story too short. Obviously, the relevant financing has to be there in order for the public administration to execute, but it's written in the public document here and there. The rest has to do with negotiations with foreign navies with respect to which, for obvious reasons, we are being as confidential as possible. Again, these kind of discussions are equally triggered by the availability and accessibility of SAFE, which is this big financial measure made available by the European Union. So again, also in that respect, everything is going, and so we don't have any special information to share, which means to deviate from the expectation of EUR 5 billion in the very short term. So having said that, we believe that revenues, full year revenues for 2026 are solid. In fact, we have not only reiterated the guidance on revenues, but we have also a little bit fine-tuned upward. So again, the comparison with last year -- first quarter last year, is driven not only by Indonesia but by the [ cooler ] contract being the sale of a ship with a specific accounting treatment being a sale of the ship. So it's, I would say, comparing 2 quarters that are not comparable in terms of the way revenues are recognized in a sale of an existing ship vis-a-vis revenues recognition according to the work in progress accounting mechanism. So on the order side, we feel confident on the revenue side, we feel confident, a little bit of color on offshore, which was your second question. The offshore market is a market in which there are multiple kind of ships that can subsidize each other. That is the world of the energy which is divided into 2 legs, the wind farms and the oil and gas. And what we experience regularly is that if by chance the wind is slowing a little bit down, the oil and gas will compensate a little bit up because it's very clear that the world needs energy. -- either you produce electrons or you produce energy from hydrocarbons, no way to stay where you are. And so it is impellent to grow. So sometimes one leg is working more. The other time, the other leg is working more. Yes, today, investment decisions in energy methods is inevitably hindered or I would say, affected or influenced by the order conflict, the energy, I would say, sense of urgence. But on top of it, it is very important to say that there are other kind of specializes vessels in which Vard is very versatile. So on top of addressing as usual, wind and oil and gas at sea, with an oil and gas infrastructure, let's see, they are addressing also cable layers, a lot of special vessels for underwater research which is something that is remarkably interesting more and more on top of icebreakers and on top of positioning bard on the specific demand of Nordea Navy, which is opening a new cycle made of relevant investment plan for defense on top of the large combatant ships, there are many, I would say, medium and smaller naval ships. And also, in that respect, Vard is exposed to a very large and very interesting opportunity. So the general comment on our offshore business is that the combination of these multiple specialized vessels, including, for example, ships for fisheries, which is another kind of ship in which Vard is very active in these days. So the portfolio of products and the overall demand for this kind of critical ships is there and Vard is very strong, very well referenced and very well positioned, all in all.

Next question is from Marco Vitale, Mediobanca.

Couple from my side. The first one is on still in the defense business pipeline. Looking at the, say, medium term, we noted that when you elaborated your financial targets for 2030, still there was the belief that your domestic market at B2W was supposed to increase defense spending to, say, 2.8% of GDP by 2028. And sorry, 2.5% by 2028, while now we are witnessing still unclear messages from current government on whether this will happen or not. So the question is, looking at the, say, domestic business, is there something that there could be some potential risk on for your medium-term pipeline coming from a lower or slower ramp-up in the expenditure from the Italian government. That was the first question. Second one is on the, say, cruise business. We noted a strong acceleration in profitability. The key question is whether this pace of margin expansion is it something that you see sustainable to also going forward, specifically for the business whether this was somewhat aided by some, say, favorable timing for specific milestones or other one-off aspects?

Let me start from the second question and then get back to the first. The answer is that the improvement in margins in the cruise is the result of a series of actions and, I would say, interventions, organizational measures that we have constantly and consistently pursued over the last 3, 4 years. So it is not the case. It is not a one-off, it is there to stay because it is the result of a process of reinforcement, which is on multiple domains and which is remarkably, I would say "invasive." So I don't see any reason why this is not projected and projectable for the way forward. In particular, if you consider that this dynamic is on the cost side, so on the operations. Then there is also the dynamic on the revenue side, meaning on the momentum we are experiencing with respect to the prices to the set of prices. So the combination of the 2 effects. So optimization on cost and enhancement of price revenues, the combination of the 2 effects make us very positive for the future of cruise. So we want to get out of that image, whereby cruises, not satisfactory. And it needs the support of defense in order to become satisfactory. So we don't like the image of that -- this kind of image for the profitability of Fincantieri. Having said that, we want to overweight defense revenues in our blends. This is the core of the strategy. So we are very happy that the engine of Cruise is working very well. And this is from the very beginning, our primary target, but the big piece of news is to see defense revenues gaining traction and gaining pace. So this is what we are working for. This is the big job we have been doing to position the company everywhere in the world. And this is what we are eager to show up and demonstrate first of all, to financial stakeholders. Your question on Italian budget for defense, it's understandable. Let me say that programs -- so investment programs of the armed forces are not something that can go zig-zag. So when you launch a program, you launch a program. So it's very difficult to imagine an armed force that is preparing everything and then not finalized and pursue. So it's a matter of fact. I believe that the contingent situation is not expected to affect the ability to transform this long time prepared engineered new ships for the Navy into real water. So that's my point of view. Again, I think that more in general, Navy expenditure in Italy is the one that is converting more into local value chain, supply chain and local GDP. So when we build the ship, the -- I would say, 80% at least of this order is translated into supply chain benefits and value chain benefits for our nation. So that's why I strongly believe that this feature of the Navy make the comparison with similar expenditure very, very, very advantageous for us. So we will continue to address those opportunities, and we're looking forward to sharing with you the achieved target.

Next question is from Emanuele Gallazzi, Equita.

I have 3 questions. The first one, clearly, you provided a lot of details, useful details on the novel business. Just looking at the underwater segment. Can you give us a sense of the current commercial pipeline for this division? The second one is on the cost side. If you can just touch on what you are experiencing on the cost side in the current environment, I'm clearly referring to the still logistic. And the third one, you mentioned the opportunity related to the Spectra project in the U.S. I was wondering if you see other, let's call them partnership for advanced unmanned vessels.

So commercial pipeline on underwater. The underwater business is made of, I would say, 3 different legs. One leg is the traditional underwater submarines. So traditional underwater vessels. The demand for this is very evident. It's everywhere. We are again, pursuing those opportunities in multiple geographies. I think this in itself is a very good market to be addressed and very good, I would say, engine for the division. And there is a second engine, which is the one related to innovative vessels, such as smaller submarines and or drones of 9 meters and 3 meters which is something we are very active. We have validated, as you may know, underwater drones with an integrated solution, including acoustic barriers and command and control systems, I would say, containerized command and control systems. Then we continue to work with the Navy and with international navies for those known conventional solutions. So large AUV and smaller summary. So some are in the region of 800 tons vis-a-vis the tradition on of 1,600. We experienced a lot of interest for this lighter kind of vessels, and we are very focused on that. Then there is a third leg, which is the lag of the commercial world. And in the commercial world, we see a lot of opportunity in the civilian commercial space, we are pursuing with Prysmian with the alliance with Prysmian that led to the joint acquisition of a very, I would say, strong and well referenced company for the underwater telecom equipment as well as partnership with Sparco and partnership with other key players in this space of the underwater. I think also this third leg is expected to gain pace We see a lot of interest in the market. Basically, we are collaborating with everyone. We would like to show some very good achievement and order intake also in this space soon. So this is the update on the commercial pipeline in the underwater again, ranging from submarines to, I would say, innovative and to nonmilitary solutions. Then your question was on the cost side.

Yes.

Yes. On the cost side, we are not experiencing negative consequences on us, simply because we have, first of all, in place very, I would say, successful hedging policies and hedging contracts, for example, for steel, for gasoline, which is something we consume when we go for tests see tests, trials. And basically also on the interest rates, we can be, I would say, fully shield from the outside pressure. So let me say, in the short term, we don't experience issues, neither logistic bottlenecks. On the logistics side, please consider that the vast majority of our procurement is in a regional value chain. So it's in the short distance from our shipyard and inside Italy apart from big components such engines that are produced elsewhere, but for sure, not the Middle East or not in region where we need Middle East. So let me say, as far as the short term is concerned, we don't see big issues for Fincantieri due to cost inflation and/or logistic bottlenecks. on Spectre, so on our activity on surface rows. Let me say that we have a lot of activity going on, obviously. So surface drones are the primary instruments for increasing the projection and the deployment of novel power and in particular, also in integration with existing ships, existing platforms. So we are very active at any level in terms of partnership in the surface drones. Obviously, Europe and U.S. are very different in the sense that in Europe, what we call surface roads are basically smaller. So the doc train by this side of the Atlantic is to have them for patrolling, for intelligence, the trend of today is to make them "offensive" so properly armed by the other side of the action by the other side of the Atlantic, there is even a more aggressive doctrine according to which they believe in very large drones. So they are thinking of drones that can be missile launchers. U.S. vision for the future is to have many, many, many platforms as unmanned as possible, able to be equipped with DLS, which are the launches and to represent a kind of big deterrent in case of deploying such a fleet, basically many, many, many drones of even very long sites. They are thinking of drones of 100, 120 meters, let's say, 2,000, 3,000 displacing tons. So something that in Europe, we are not yet accustomed to elaborate. Fincantieri enjoys the possibility to play in those 2 different theaters to get a custom with those different theories and doctrines. So that's why we are so focused because we are also more than happy to cross-fertilize the 2 shores of the Atlantic in order to make available the best.

Next question is from Gabriele Gambarova, Intesa Sanpaolo.

Yes. I've got 3. The first one is on the fiscal year '26 guidance for net profit, EUR 140 million, EUR 180 million. I was wondering if this target refers to the reported, let's say, net profit, so after exceptionals or is adjusted. So it's before. And if I may, I mean, the range is pretty wide. So I was wondering what can make the difference between the EUR 140 million and EUR 180 million, if there is any particular moving part? The second question is on Naval. I saw that the first quarter was pretty weak in terms of top line estimated a minus 29% year-over-year considering, let's say, the one-off in Q1 2025. I was wondering if is it possible to understand when there will be, let's say, a recovery, thanks to the new programs you got, I mean, should we see further slowdown in the coming quarters? Or is it possible that maybe from Q2, Q3 or Q4, that will be flattening and then a recovery. And the third one is on underwater. In this case, the performance was exceptionally strong, plus 43% in terms of top line. I was wondering, I mean, you said that specifically submarines recovered very strongly. Even here, I was wondering what could happen in the coming quarters because it seems to me that, let's say, the guidance for 2026 in terms of submarines was pretty, let's say, was high single-digit growth. And instead, I was wondering if we could see something more than this?

Let me answer then on the below EBITDA dynamics, I will leave the floor to Giuseppe. But on your -- on the revenues on 2026, the fact that we have reiterated the guidance should be the answer to your question. So otherwise, would have been, I would say, at least awkward, if not [indiscernible] to increase to confirm and increase the guidance. So again, the beauty of, when you work in our business, the beauty when it will work with projects is that projects are driven by the production schedule. So revenues are not what you sell, our revenues are what you produce. So typically, there could be issues, there could be, obviously, some issues along the way. But typically, when you are in the current year, you tend to know what's your production curve. And so what is your revenue recognition mechanism for the months to come. So if your answer is that if we will increase revenues on a yearly basis, and so go beyond the current phasing experienced in the first quarter. The answer is absolutely yes. And this is the reason why we have reiterated the guidance and even a little bit uplift. Then on the EBITDA mechanism and dynamics. I will leave the floor to Giuseppe and then get back.

Yes. So on the first part of your question, it refers to net result after extraordinary nonrecurring items first. And of course, the range is linked to the, let me say, realization of some upsides that we expect throughout the year. Let me put it this way. And you also asked about no revenues recovery, I guess Pierroberto, if you. Yes. It was on the phasing of the results when we could see.

Also in the underwater again, revenues are consequent to the production curves. So no way to zig zag. It is the trajectory of our ongoing projects, and we don't see issues why the current trajectory is not expectable for the future to come.

Next question is from Lorenzo de Patrice, Bank of America.

So first on -- so on the guidance raise, can you give just more details on what prompted this? Is there a division program, in particular to call out. Then on your leverage ratio, so it has improved significantly from the full year what drove this improvement? And what does this mean for the trajectory for the full year and to 2030. Am I correct that the onetime target in 2030 is still excluding the capital increase?

Yes. Let's start with the second question. Yes, you are correct. The guidance we gave on leverage ratios as of 2030 excludes capital increase, the proceeds of the capital increase as we gave those targets before the ABB and of course, without factoring the ABB in the targets. It goes the same for this year. I mean, withstanding the fact that we report, of course, net debt levels, including the proceeds -- net of the proceeds of the capital increase, we are still guiding forward to without the proceeds of the capital increase. That is the, let me say, communication approach that we have chosen.

Okay. On your first question on any detail on what prompted the guidance? Well, but let me put it this way from -- we definitely upgraded the guidance with respect to revenues and of course, we qualified quantitatively the guidance on net debt increasing it. As you remember, we gave a qualitative guidance on -- sorry, on net result levels. We simply said that net result of 2026 was going to be higher than 2025. Of course, now we are saying what range, in what range this result will fall and it will definitely higher than what we expected. This is the sense of what we said.

Next question is from Sriram Krishnan, Deutsche Bank.

Can you hear me well?

Yes, we can hear you.

All right. Perfect. So I have 2 or 3 quick questions, if I may, please. So the first 1 is on the U.S. With regards to the LSM contract, I believe that the manager for that particular program is still not appointed. But just trying to understand, post the appointment of that manager, is that purely from an operational management point of view? Or is the manager has the ability to appoint more shipyards for manufacturing these 30 ships? That's the first question. The second one is on Norway. It's a pretty simple one. So I believe, I think, in the last month or so, there was -- the ship design contract was awarded by Norway. Just trying to understand from the time line perspective, when do we expect the ship design to be frozen and when the actual construction contract to fruit -- come to fruition, is it 2027, 2028? And then finally, on the M&A in underwater. It's clear that you are focusing on underwater. Just trying to understand, are you focusing more from a technical capability, which boosts you the technical capability or more from an expansion of market access point of view?

So on your first question, the in United States. I would say that the good news is that the Navy, the procurement office decided to move forward on assigning Marinette, Fincantieri USA with a new class of ship. They have indicated, which is the overall number of ships they would like to build, which is more than 35 and that they have indicated 2 shipyards as the 2 ships to be specialized on these kind of ships, that they have clarified the first 4 were assigned to Fincantieri USA and that on these 4 order -- on this order for four, they wanted to jump start with the award of initial contract for ordering the long-lead items. So those procurement items, which need a long time to be fabricated and produced. So this is the news flow -- and this is very good for Marinette because this is the leaving evidence that the agreement achieved in end of November 2025 was strong and solid. Your question is either they want to use more shipyards on top of Bolivar and Fincantieri. I have no specific information to add to what was public I'm not aware of something like this. I believe that we will be very happy as a beginning to build the first fall we believe that good performance is calling for good business and additional orders. So let me say, I don't have any specific excellent information. or official information received in that respect. And what I believe is that let's start well because if we start well the rest will be natural. On your second question, if I understand correctly, you would like to have some color about Norway, the defense program in Norway, basically, the status is the following: there is a large budget to be managed. And this large budget is expected to be managed in a way that can compensate also local shipbuilding for not having been extensively involved in the frigate program. So at the end of the day, the Frigate program was assigned, was awarded to U.K. along with an agreement, a G2G, government-to-government agreement to military -- to provide military support to Norway in case of Russian invasion. So it was more a geopolitical deal than an industrial deal. But as a result, as a second wave, our understanding is that also in Norway, there is interest to use this novel expenditure in order to revitalize the local shipbuilding and the local value chain at large. In the last months, there were the initial steps in terms of identifying the design firm. So it's more on the design phase. Obviously, we are more interested in being the constructor. So we are there for the large award that not necessarily interested in the small 1 in terms of design package also in order to avoid any possible conflict of interest because from time to time, if you are the designer, you can be somehow penalized to be the builder. So we have very good experience in design of cost card ships, for example, and weak in Norway, already built over there. And on top of it, we can also contribute some very good expertise from Italy, by the way. But again, the way we are participating to this program is to be there for the large contract rather than from the design one. On your third question is about underwater. If the M&A we are looking at is more characterized by technologies or characterized by market share, I would say both. I would say both. So we believe that we want to create a positioning that is technology-driven, and technologies will be, for sure, a key recipe a key ingredient in this recipe, but we want also to accelerate the adoption of new technologies and the business model. So we are looking at a number of transactions and the shares that will be positive in either ways.

Next question is from Michele Baldelli, BNP Pariba.

Here are a couple of questions. The first 1 relates to the M&A given your leverage has improved materially. If you can remind us what are the targets? What is the like in the short term to see any of those and what kind of, let's say, products or segments you are targeting that could be interesting for you. The second question relates then to the last answer that you gave. If you can remind us about this pipeline of projects in Europe in the naval part of your business. If any of this, let's say, potential award has gone? Or if new, let's say, tenders are now visible. And if you can, let's say, give us this more color?

Thank you very much on your second question. We are when we mentioned in the, I would say, short-term targets in Europe, we were making reference to opportunities that we've been following and pursuing since quite a long time. So in our business, there is no way to be hunter, it's a business for farmers, so you need to cultivate. And then you have to cultivate a lot in order to have your -- with the right level of probability to have your order intake achieved. So no way to be fast track are all opportunities that we've been pursuing. Unfortunately, we prefer not to disclose for a number of reasons, but are are there and there and I would say also on the market. On your second question is more color on the M&A opportunities. in the underwater if I understand correctly. And in general, again, we try to be as colorful as possible when saying that we are looking at acquisitions of technologies, so the vertical and also acquisition of components of the product strategy we have in mind, business development strategy we have in mind. So we have we searched make or buy strategy, which is very clear, which means that there are certain technological bricks that we want to internalize, i.e., we want to own. And there are other bricks that we want to have access to by means of alliances, commercial alliances. So depending on this make or buy strategy that we have presented in the underwater Day last year. we are constantly and consistently pursuing a number of opportunity in that respect. Again, another possible color is that we are looking at Naval, but we are not obsessed by naval. So you know our idea of underwater is that it's an underwater economy that, yes, can leverage on defense for devalidation, but then has to be opened also to the agent applications. So civilian clients, such as the energy sector, the telecom sector, the mining sector and the rest of the, I should say, in the underwater. So we don't want to disclose that much because it would jeopardize the success of these negotiations. But we will be more than happy. And I would say in the short term to get back to you with the right level of disclosure.

Next question is from Andrea Belloli, Banca Akros.

Just one follow-up from my side. And sorry for coming back from cost inflation. I understood that in the short term, inflation is not an issue for you, but I was wondering how you cover how are you covering from potential cost fluctuation in the long term now that you have announced with contract, we believe is up to 2039.

Well, Giuseppe speaking here. As we book revenues and margin with the cost-to-cost accounting principle, if there are long term -- I mean if the deteriorations in future costs, we should have to factor them in the whole life products of the projects. And therefore, on the quarterly financial statements. When we say that we are not -- as of now, we are not experiencing deteriorations from costs, especially in steel and commodities, it means that we are covered beyond the or time frame that extends to 2026. I'll give you an example. As Pierroberto mentioned before, we buy gas oil for sea trials for ships. And we buy it and hedge it i.e., whenever we have a cruise contract signed and effective, we add right away the needs that we have for gas, even if these gas oil will be purchased 4 years down the road.

Gentlemen, there are no more questions registered at this time.

Thank you. Thank you, everyone.

Thank you, bye.

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