The firm, which makes compressors and construction and mining gear, reported operating profit of 4.18 billion crowns ($635 million) against a year-ago 3.5 billion and a mean forecast of 4.32 billion in a Reuters poll of analysts.
“The overall demand for the group’s products and services is expected to remain at the current high level,” it said, adding it had faced strong currency headwinds in the quarter.
In April, it forecast demand would increase somewhat further in the near term. The firm, which used the global downturn to trim costs, has in recent quarters ridden a wave of strong demand, not least from a booming mining business.
Second-quarter order intake grew 16 percent organically to 22.2 billion crowns from a year earlier, just above forecast. Operating margin grew to 20.9 percent from 20.1, undershooting a forecast for 21.7.
Atlas Copco Chief Executive Ronnie Leten said in a separate statement that demand was good in all business areas.
“Our deliveries and invoicing levels are improving and we are proud to again report record profit for the quarter,” he said. “We also achieved a strong operating margin, even with significant currency headwind.”
In the first quarter, Atlas Copco posted record order intake and margin, holding off pressure from higher raw materials prices and a stronger Swedish crown, but supply chain stresses in the compressor business hit sales.
On Friday, Swedish industrial sector peer SKF, a leading bearings maker, posted lower-than-expected earnings, weighed down by currency headwinds. That sent its shares down and cast a shadow over the rest of the sector.
