Krones AG O.N. (ETR:KRNG) reported fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded analyst expectations on profitability, driven by exceptionally strong free cash flow. The German packaging equipment manufacturer posted revenue of €1,556.4 million, up 9.7% year-on-year but slightly below analyst forecasts of €1,581 million. However, the company delivered better-than-expected profitability, with EBITDA rising 17.5% to €171.6 million and an EBITDA margin of 11.0% beating the consensus estimate of 10.8%.

Most significantly, Krones generated free cash flow of €202.7 million in Q4, surpassing analyst expectations by a substantial 52%. This robust cash generation underscores the company's financial resilience despite challenging macroeconomic conditions.