Digia Plc
Stock exchange release
25 February 2025 at 3:00 PM EET
A record-breaking year: fourth-quarter organic net sales growth was 3 per cent and operating profit (EBITA) was up 15 per cent
October-December 2024
- Net sales: EUR 54.5 (53.2) million, up 2.6 per cent
- Operating profit (EBITA): EUR 5.8 (5.1) million, up 15.2 per cent;
EBITA margin: 10.7 (9.6) per cent of net sales - Operating profit (EBIT): EUR 5.2 (4.3) million, up 20.1 per cent;
EBIT margin: 9.5 (8.1) per cent of net sales - Earnings per share: EUR 0.15 (0.12)
January-December 2024
- Net sales: EUR 205.7 (192.1) million, up 7.1 per cent
- Operating profit (EBITA): EUR 21.2 (16.7) million, up 26.5 per cent;
EBITA margin: 10.3 (8.7) per cent of net sales - Operating profit (EBIT): EUR 18.2 (13.8) million, up 31.6 per cent;
operating margin: 8.9 (7.2) per cent of net sales - Earnings per share: EUR 0.50 (0.37)
- Cash flow from operations EUR 25.0 (17.0) million, up 47.6 per cent
- Return on investment: 16.6 (12.9) per cent
- Equity ratio: 52.9 (46.7) per cent. Interest-bearing net liabilities EUR 11.6 million, down 53.0 per cent
- The Board of Directors proposes to the Annual General Meeting that a dividend of
EUR 0.18 (EUR 0.17 for 2023) be paid for 2024.
Unless otherwise stated, the comparison figures provided in parentheses refer to the corresponding period of the previous year.
Group key figures
| % | ||||||
| EUR 1,000 | 10-12/ 2024 | 10-12/ 2023 | Change, % | 1-12/ 2024 | 1-12/ 2023 | Change, % |
| Net sales | 54,524 | 53,160 | 2.6% | 205,672 | 192,087 | 7.1% |
| Operating profit (EBITA) | 5,850 | 5,077 | 15.2% | 21,161 | 16,727 | 26.5% |
| - as a % of net sales | 10.7% | 9.6% | 12.3% | 10.3% | 8.7% | |
| Operating profit (EBIT) | 5,186 | 4,318 | 20.1% | 18,208 | 13,835 | 31.6% |
| - as a % of net sales | 9.5% | 8.1% | 17.1% | 8.9% | 7.2% | |
| Result for the period | 3,995 | 3,136 | 27.4% | 13,291 | 9,872 | 34.6% |
| - as a % of net sales | 7.3% | 5.9% | 24.2% | 6.5% | 5.1% | |
| Return on equity, % | 16.7% | 13.5% | ||||
| Return on investment, % | 16.6% | 12.9% | ||||
| Cash flow from operations | 25,049 | 16,973 | 47.6% | |||
| Interest-bearing net liabilities | 11,642 | 24,771 | -53.0% | |||
| Net gearing, % | 13.9% | 32.8% | ||||
| Equity ratio, % | 52.9% | 46.7% | ||||
| Number of personnel at period-end | 1,576 | 1,527 | 3.2% | |||
| Average number of personnel | 1,572 | 1,528 | 2.9% | 1,553 | 1,465 | 6.0% |
| Shareholders' equity | 83,718 | 75,420 | 11.0% | |||
| Balance sheet total | 163,486 | 168,157 | -2.8% | |||
| Earnings per share, EUR | 0.15 | 0.12 | 27.4% | 0.50 | 0.37 | 34.8% |
| Earnings per share (diluted), EUR | 0.15 | 0.12 | 28.0% | 0.50 | 0.37 | 35.3% |
CEO's Review:
"2024 was Digia's ninth consecutive year of profitable growth. We achieved year-on-year growth in both our net sales and operating profit (EBITA) in each quarter of the year. Net sales and operating profit (EBITA) hit an all-time high in the fourth quarter.
Considering the market situation, I'm very satisfied with our performance in the last quarter. Our net sales saw organic growth of 2.6 per cent, and our operating profit (EBITA) was up by 15.2 per cent. In the fourth quarter, the market for the IT services business was on a cautious, wait-and-see footing, which was reflected in demand volume. Furthermore, customers reviewed new investment decisions carefully, and in some cases put these on hold until a later date. On the other hand, customers centralised their procurements in the hands of providers with a broad offering, which again supported Digia's strong performance during the quarter. Digia's continuing service and maintenance business accounted for 48.4 per cent of net sales in the fourth quarter. Extensive continuing services provide stability to the business and support the strategy of sustainable growth. Outperforming the general market trends, Digia achieved organic growth and improved its profitability.
Our full-year net sales grew by 7.1 per cent to EUR 205.7 (192.1) million. Of this, full-year organic growth was at 3.1 per cent. In the last quarter, our net sales amounted to EUR 54.5 (53.2) million and all of the growth was organic.
Our full-year operating profit (EBITA) was EUR 21.2 (16.7) million, including EUR 1.6 (0.6) million in expenses with no cash flow impact related to changes in the fair value of acquisitions. EBITA margin was 10.3 (8.7) per cent. Fourth-quarter operating profit (EBITA) was EUR 5.8 (5.1) million with an EBITA margin of 10.7 (9.6) per cent.
With respect to the growth figures for the fourth quarter, I'm especially pleased that Digital Experience, our business focusing on modern software development, continued to see growth of 18 per cent. The Digital Experience business comprehensively integrates customer experience, design, and technology into Digia's business solutions. The high calibre of our expertise was evident in our new partnerships and deeper customer relationships, such as with the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, the State Treasury and the Finnish Tax Administration.
In addition, the trust that our customers have in us was broadly visible in our business operations. In October-December, we made new partnership agreements with companies such as ARE, DigiFinland, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) and Broman Group. We also took an important step forward in expanding our partnership with a major financial operator.
In 2024, our customers' interest in harnessing AI increased significantly. This is the beginning of a transformational change. Digia's approach to AI is to integrate it into the customer's business processes. We utilize AI automation and generative artificial intelligence as well as new agent solutions, for example, as part of Microsoft business solutions. The business benefits of AI are realised in production solutions, and not just in trials and POCs. For example, the Digia Dolphin platform meets this need. In the last quarter of the year, Digia Dolphin already saw significant monthly recurring volumes from a business perspective.
We continuously invest in the development and growth of our personnel. Our number of employees grew by 18 during the last quarter and was up 49 in the full year in relation to the comparison period. We also launched a major recruitment campaign in December with the aim of hiring 75 new IT professionals.
We are releasing information on our sustainability in 2024 in the Group's Sustainability Statement as part of the Board of Directors' Report. We see the green transition as a business opportunity. For example, we are on board as a partner in the implementation of the Animal Welfare Verification System project which is being carried out jointly by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) and food industry actors as part of the nationwide Food 2.0 Veturi project led by Valio.
2024 was the second year in our three-year strategy period. Our "Unlock Your Intelligence" strategy aims for sustainable profitable growth. We achieve this by providing our customers with intelligent solutions as a genuine business partner. One of our objectives is to increase the share of Digia's total net sales accounted for by international operations to 15 per cent by the end of 2025. International operations represented 11.8 per cent of net sales in 2024. We also made progress in our sustainability objectives. Compared to 2022, Digia's customer net promoter score (NPS) rose by 18 per cent and its employee net promoter score (eNPS) by 60 per cent. By the end of 2024, our carbon footprint had reduced by 40 per cent compared to the 2019 baseline.
Although delays in decision-making and IT project launches may be felt as a slower start to the year, our aim for 2025 is to achieve profitable growth for the tenth consecutive year in line with our strategy. We make growth investments in sales and service productization as well as international business. Regarding our own operations, we invest in and deepen the "symbiosis between people and software" within the organization, bringing the benefits of artificial intelligence to enhance everyday operations. As a company, Digia is in a strong position heading into 2025.
I would like to thank all of Digia's personnel, customers, shareholders and partners for 2024, a year of sustainable growth!"
Profit guidance for 2025
Digia's profit guidance for 2025: Digia's net sales will grow (EUR 205.7 million in 2024) and its operating profit (EBITA) will either increase or remain on a par with 2024 (EUR 21.2 million in 2024).
Events after the review period
There have been no major events since the review period.
Briefing invitation
A briefing for analysts will be held at 4:30 pm on Tuesday 25 February 2025 as a Teams meeting. Attendance instructions have been emailed to participants.
CEO Timo Levoranta will give a webcast on the results starting at 6:00 pm at https://digia.events.inderes.com/q4-2024/.
The material and presentation for the event will be available from 4:30 pm on 25 February 2025 on the company's website: digia.com/en/investors/reports-and-presentations.
Financial reporting
In 2025, Digia will publish its Financial Statement Bulletin, two business reviews, and half-year interim report as follows:
- Business Review 1-3/2025: Friday 25 April 2025 at 8:00 am
- Half-year Report 1-6/2025: Thursday 7 August 2025 at 3:00 pm
- Business Review 1-9/2025: Thursday 23 October 2025 at 3:00 pm
The Annual Report will be published on the company's website on Thursday, 6 March 2025.
Digia Plc's Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday, 27 March 2025.
For further information, please contact:
Timo Levoranta, President & CEO
tel. +358 40 500 2050
Distribution
Nasdaq Helsinki
Key Media
digia.com
Digia is a software and service company that combines technological possibilities and human capabilities to build intelligent business, society and a sustainable future. Our mission is to ensure that our customers at the forefront of digital evolution. There are more than 1,500 of us working at Digia and we operate globally with our international customers. Digia's net sales totalled EUR 205.7 million in 2024. The company is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki (DIGIA).
