I couldn’t find a Vaisala thread on the forum, so I thought I’d open a thread for those interested in the company.
Vaisala has been under Inderes’ coverage since 2016, and over 4,000 investors follow Vaisala on inderes.fi (www.inderes.fi/fi/yhtiot/vaisala). The company is therefore generating interest among investors, even though the stock is currently quite challengingly priced. However, it is a stable and profitably growing technology company.
Right at the start, here is a link to the latest InderesTV episode concerning Vaisala:
https://www.inderes.fi/fi/videot/vaisalan-ylla-koronapilvia
To start the thread, here is some information about Vaisala, a provider of weather, environmental, and industrial measurement solutions.
History
1936 Vilho Väisälä (1889-1969) develops the RS11 radiosonde. (Video on the development of the sonde)
1936 He founds Toiminimi V. Väisälä and begins manufacturing radiosondes in the cellar of his home.
1936 The first order for 20 radiosondes is sent to MIT university.
1937 The RS11 radiosonde receives a gold medal at the Paris World Expo.
1944 Toiminimi V. Väisälä changes its name to Mittari Oy.
1954 Mittari Oy changes its name to Vaisala Oy and moves to a new factory property in Vantaa.
1968 Vaisala Oy receives the President of the Republic’s export award.
1975 Automatic weather stations are developed, and Vaisala’s aviation weather business begins.
1980 An in-house cleanroom enables the production of semiconductors, and the industrial measurements business begins.
1988 Vaisala Oy lists on the Helsinki Stock Exchange’s OTC list.
1994 Vaisala Oyj lists on the main list of the Helsinki Stock Exchange.
More on Vaisala’s history, e.g., youtube: The Story of Vaisala.
Net Sales and Operating Profit
Vaisala’s net sales have been growing over the last 5 years, and profitability has generally remained at a good level.

Vaisala’s Business Structure
- Weather and Environment (65% share of net sales in 2019)
=> provides weather measurement technology products, projects, and services
=> customers include meteorological institutes, road and rail authorities, airports and defense forces, energy companies, and maritime sectors - Industrial Measurements (35% share of net sales in 2019)
=> helps improve the quality, efficiency, and productivity of products and production processes
=> customers include semiconductor manufacturers, power plants, the automotive industry, and the food industry
=> focuses on demanding humidity and carbon dioxide measurements (CO2 concentration, humidity, temperature, dew point, pressure, hydrogen peroxide concentration, moisture in oil, and dissolved gases in oil)
The Weather and Environment business area is the larger part of Vaisala in terms of net sales. However, the Industrial Measurements business has been growing faster and has better profitability.
=> in terms of results and growth, Industrial Measurements is Vaisala’s most important business area

Orders Received and Order Book
The order book is quite short, and the number of orders received varies significantly between quarters.

Research and Development
Research and development have played an important role at Vaisala. Vaisala has invested an average of approximately 13% of net sales into R&D between 2013 and 2019.

Acquisitions
- Vaisala has made many acquisitions throughout its history, most of which have been small in terms of net sales.
2010 Veriteq Instruments Inc, Canada (environmental monitoring)
2013 Second Wind Systems Inc., USA (remote sensing technology)
2013 3TIER Inc., USA (energy generation assessment)
2017 Vionice, Finland (computer vision)
2018 Leosphere, France (wind lidars)
2018 K-Patents, Finland (liquid measurements)
2019 Foreca’s professional weather services business
Vaisala’s Strategy for the Period 2019-2023
- The Industrial Measurements business area aims for:
profitable growth in gas and liquid measurement technologies (humidity and carbon dioxide measurements, liquid measurements, environmental monitoring systems, condition monitoring equipment for electrical systems) - The Weather and Environment business area’s goals are:
A) to offer the industry’s best products for weather observation; B) to be a reliable partner in large project deliveries; C) to leverage digital transformation and develop solutions that support decision-making for weather-critical operations; and D) to expand into environmental measurements with urban air quality as the spearhead. - Research and Development: Focus on renewing the instrument and radar offering and on smart data and software products, especially for the intelligent transportation systems market.
Long-term Financial Targets
- aims for an average annual growth of over 5%.
- aims for an operating profit margin (EBIT) of over 12%.
Peers
- There are no truly direct peers, but comparisons can be drawn from high-expertise technology companies:
- Spectris Plc (LSE:SXS) (measurement and precision instrumentation and controls)
- Halma Plc (LSE: HLMA) (gas sensors and other sensors)
- Oxford Instruments Plc (LSE: OXIG) (microscopes, sensors)
- Indutrade AB (STO: INDT) (technical components)
- TT Electronics Plc (LSE: TTG) (sensors, components)
- Hexagon AB (STO: HEXA) (geospatial, industrial measurement equipment)
- Hexpol (STO: HPOL) (rubber and plastic components)

