Bouygues grows record backlog amid Q1 losses

The France-based engineering firm reported a group net loss of â‚�156 million (US$168.8 million) in the first quarter, which included a one-time tax surcharge on large French companies. 

The Bouygues Construction logo (Image: Adobe Stock) The Bouygues Construction logo displayed on the side of a building. (Image: Adobe Stock)

Excluding the surcharge, the net loss would have been �123 million ($133.2 million), representing a �23 million ($26 million) year-on-year improvement.

Bouygues reported a 2.2% year-on-year increase in group sales in the first quarter of 2025, reaching �12.6 billion ($13.6 billion), with improvements across its construction, telecom, and media segments.

Group current operating profit from activities (COPA) climbed to �69 million ($74.6 million), up from �26 million ($28.1 million) in Q1 2024.

Bouyguesâ€� construction backlog hits record 

The construction businesses � Colas, Bouygues Construction and Bouygues Immobilier � reached a record combined backlog of �34.2 billion ($38 billion) at the end of March, up 12% year on year. Bouygues Construction led the growth with a 17% increase in its backlog to �18.3 billion ($19.8 billion), while Colas recorded �15.1 billion ($16.3 billion), up 9%.

Backlog rose in France (9%), the rest of Europe (8%), and other international markets (19%). The company said its international backlog now represents 59% of its total.

Major Q1 project wins included a �250 million ($270.6 million) rail contract and �170 million ($184.8 million) roads contract for the Kenitra–Marrakesh high-speed line in Morocco, and an eight-year, �380 million ($411.3 million) operations and maintenance rail contract in the UK.

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Q1 construction sales totalled �5.5 billion ($5.95 billion) (up 3%), with Colas contributing �2.6 billion ($2.81 billion) and Bouygues Construction �2.6 billion ($2.81 billion). Bouygues Immobilier reported sales of �252 million ($273 million).

The construction segment posted a seasonal current operating profit from activities (COPA) loss of �240 million ($259.8 million), said to be typical for Q1 due to winter activity slowdowns, particularly for Colas.

Bouygues Construction was the only construction entity to post a positive margin from activities (2.9%).

Equans, Bouyguesâ€� energy and services division, posted â‚�177 million ($191.7 million) in COPA (3.8% margin), up â‚�44 million year-on-year. 

Bougues� 2025 outlook

Despite geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty, Bouygues confirmed its 2025 outlook, targeting a slight increase in group sales and COPA.

Net debt stood at �7.1 billion ($7.68 billion) at the end of March 2025, down �645 million ($698.5 million) from a year earlier.

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