Glossary
Air handling unit Ventilation system for large-scale use in residential, office and business premises. Outside air is supplied to the rooms and "used" or polluted exhaust air is discharged. It transports, filters, heats, cools and disinfects the air.
Market capitalisation A company’s stock market value. It is calculated using the number of shares x the current share price.
Cascade utilisation In a cascade connection for heat pumps, several heat pump circuits are linked together to maximise the efficiency gain and extend the range of applications. The heat recovered in the first stage is used as input for the next stage. This makes it possible to achieve higher temperatures than a single stage alone could.
Cash flow Positive or negative surplus cash arising from commercial activity, measured over a certain period. Cash flow can be used to evaluate how financially strong a company is.
Cash flow from operating activities Describes the liquid funds generated by the business activity in a given period. The operating cash flow includes the net income for the year, changes in depreciation, amortization, provisions and current assets.
Combined heat and power (CHP) The simultaneous generation of mechanical energy and usable heat produced in a joint thermodynamic process. The mechanical energy is usually converted directly into electrical power. The heat is used for heating purposes. The advantage of CHP is the reduced fuel requirement for simultaneous electricity and heat production, which greatly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. CHP can be used with almost any fuel and heat source.
Controlled residential ventilation A mechanical form of ventilation, used for ventilating residences with heat recovery. An integrated heat exchanger is used to transfer heat energy from the exhaust air to the outside air supply. Residential ventilation ensures that air is replaced in the building at a defined rate, creating a hygienic means of air exchange.
EBIT Earnings Before Interests and Taxes A company’s operating results before interest and taxes are taken into account.
EBIT margin Indicates EBIT in relation to revenue.
EBITDA Earnings Before Interests and Taxes, Depreciations and Amortisation A company’s operating results before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation are taken into account. EBITDA is one of the most meaningful figures in evaluating a company’s earning power.
EBITDA margin Indicates EBITDA in relation to revenue.
Equity ratio Indicates the shareholders’ equity in relation to total capital. It is used to assess a company’s financial capacity and stability. If the equity ratio is high, you can assume that the company is less dependent on third-party funds.
Fan coil Depending on the temperature of the flow water for a connected water heater / chiller, fan coils are able to heat, cool and dehumidify a room, and are able to provide ventilation and the option of filtering indoor air. This results in maximum comfort with optimum room air quality. A fan radiator is able to heat (but not cool) a room by means of convection when the fan is switched off.
Free cash flow The operating cash flow minus cash flow from investing activities; illustrates how much cash remains free for shareholder dividends and / or any repayment of debt financing that may be required.
Heat pump Draws its heat energy from the air, groundwater or soil, and uses this extremely efficiently to generate the heat required for heating drinking water and rooms. Compared to heat pumps, no other kind of heat generator is a more environmentally sustainable solution or is more fit for the future.
Net debt The total that remains when cash and cash equivalents are deducted from non-current liabilities. This expresses how much money would be needed to repay loans if the liquid assets were already used up and the company had to liquidate fixed and current assets.
Volume-weighted average price (VWAP) Indicates the volume-weighted average price of a security in a given period.