alstom sa said that its sales and adjusted earnings increased and exceeded analyst expectations as it reported wednesday its fiscal 2023 firsthalf results the french train makers adjusted earnings before interest and taxes its key indicator rose to 397 million euros 4109 million compared with eur335 million for the prior fiscalyear period on sales that grew 8 to eur805 billion the companys net loss for the period narrowed to eur21 million from eur26 million in the prioryear period orders received increased for the six months to the end of september to eur1007 billion compared with eur973 billion while its order backlog grew 13 to eur8593 billion the result compares with expectations of an adjusted ebit of eur387 million on sales of eur801 billion according to a companycompiled consensus of analysts average estimates alstom specified its fiscalyear guidance saying it expects an adjusted ebit margin between 51 to 53 and said it expects free cash flow within eur100 million and eur300 million it maintained its sales growth target and a booktobill ratio above 1