Bouygues announces a net profit increase of 1,7% in 2024, driven by its construction branch and Equans

"We will continue our efforts to improve the overall profitability of our activities," declared Olivier Roussat, CEO of Bouygues during the results presentation conference.

The French giant, present in construction, real estate and telecoms, is aiming for 2025 a turnover and a current operating profit "in slight growth" compared to 2024, he added, describing "the global environment as uncertain". "We will continue to adapt in this environment. We will adapt to the developments in our markets", he said.

The 2024 turnover came to 56,7 billion, up 1%, and the current operating profit from activities came to 2,5 billion, up 5%.

Net profit increased by 1,7% to 1,06 billion euros.

"This improvement is largely driven by Equans (...) and to a lesser extent by Bouygues Construction," according to the group.

Regarding Equans, its building energy management subsidiary acquired from Engie in 2022, Bouygues is counting on "continued organic growth" in turnover in 2025 and a margin on activities "close to 4%".

"Equans aims to gradually match the organic growth of comparable players in the sector, and to achieve, by 2027, a business margin (ROCA margin) of 5%," recalls Bouygues.

Its order book, in the promising sector of the energy transition, stands at 25,4 billion euros at the end of December 2024 (+3%).

In construction activities, the order book reached the "record" level of 32,2 billion euros (+13%), "offering visibility on future activity", underlines Bouygues. International business now represents more than two thirds ("around 68%") of this order book, compared to around 63% in 2021.

On the other hand, Bouygues Immobilier is facing a "still difficult market environment". In 2024, its turnover "is down 17% to 1,5 billion euros with housing down 14% over one year", acknowledged Olivier Roussat.

"Bouygues Immobilier, during the year 2024, adapted its structure to put itself in a position that is aligned with the state of the market," he stressed. This resulted in the elimination of 225 positions, but around a hundred employees were reassigned within the group.

Bouygues Telecom's activity remained stable in 2024, with the group continuing the integration of La Poste Mobile, acquired in the fall. Revenue stood at 7,8 billion euros and net profit at 376 million euros.

Finally, TF1 was driven by its programs, streaming and its production studio, with net profit up 7,1% in 2024, to 206 million euros, resisting the "unprecedented" competition from the Paris Olympics on France Télévisions.

The audiovisual group recorded a turnover of more than 2,3 billion euros, up 2,6%, and its advertising revenues exceeded 1,6 billion euros (+2,3%).

For 2025, "in an advertising market offering limited visibility", it aims to "maintain a margin of activities close to that of 2024".