Aristocrat Reports Strong Fiscal Year with Significant Shareholder Returns
Aristocrat Delivers Impressive Financial Results
Australian gaming equipment and software maker Aristocrat has announced its fiscal year results, showcasing strong growth in the latter half of the year. This solid performance enabled the company to return approximately AUD 1.4 billion (about $915 million) to its shareholders.
Robust Growth Across Financial Indicators
Aristocrat reported a revenue increase of 11% year-over-year, reaching AUD 6.3 billion (around $4.1 billion). The company credits this growth to a versatile product portfolio, consistent investment in organic expansion, and gaining market share.
Segment profit rose by 12% year-on-year to AUD 3.2 billion ($2.1 billion), driven by disciplined cost control and effective strategic execution.
Net profit after tax and amortization (NPATA) climbed 12% to AUD 1.6 billion ($1.05 billion), supported by strong operational outcomes and the integration of NeoGames.
Additionally, Aristocrat’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) grew by 15.6% year-on-year, reaching AUD 2.6 billion ($1.7 billion). The EBITDA margin improved slightly to 41.7%, reflecting favorable product mix and enhanced operational efficiencies.
The company’s earnings per fully diluted share increased 11.6% to $2.265 (AUD 1.47), further highlighting its financial strength.
Operating cash flow also improved, rising 9.5% year-over-year to AUD 1.9 billion ($1.2 billion). Meanwhile, net debt stood at AUD 423.3 million ($276.6 million), indicating robust financial health.
CEO Emphasizes Key Achievements and Strategic Focus
Aristocrat’s CEO and Managing Director, Trevor Croker, expressed satisfaction with the company’s strong financial performance and significant growth across core business metrics. He emphasized that these results demonstrate the strength and quality of Aristocrat’s product offerings.
Croker highlighted several strategic moves during the year, including streamlining the company’s portfolio by divesting non-core assets such as Plarium and Big Fish Games. This enabled Aristocrat to concentrate its Product Madness mobile operations strictly within the social casino segment.
Investment continued in technology advancements and product development, as well as expansion efforts within the Aristocrat Interactive division to drive future growth. The company also maintained its commitment to responsible gaming practices and player protection.
One of Croker’s notable remarks was the return of AUD 1.4 billion to shareholders through a combination of dividends and on-market share buybacks, consistent with Aristocrat’s disciplined capital allocation strategy.
“Looking ahead, we continue to see strong momentum in our business as we align our portfolio to capture the significant strategic opportunities in front of us. We remain committed to our capital management strategy and our ongoing on-market share buy-back program.”
Trevor Croker, CEO & Managing Director, Aristocrat
Legal Updates
In related news, Aristocrat has recently achieved a favorable legal ruling in its ongoing dispute with competitor Light & Wonder, marking an important milestone in the case.
