Key points:
- Aristocrat achieved 20% EPS growth for FY24, supported by a 5% revenue increase and efficient cost management
- North American gaming operations added approximately 7,100 net units, capturing over 40% market share
- Pixel United saw record social casino bookings, and Aristocrat Interactive recorded 85% revenue growth, benefiting from recent acquisitions and market expansion
Aristocrat Leisure has delivered strong financial results for the fiscal year ending 30 September 2024, marking a 20% increase in earnings per share (EPS).
This growth highlights the company’s market expansion efforts and operational efficiency – especially in North American gaming operations and the Aristocrat Interactive division.
For FY24, Aristocrat recorded a 5% increase in total revenue, reaching AU$6.6bn (US$4.31bn), with North American gaming operations as a significant contributor. This segment added approximately 7,100 net units to its installed base.
The company's normalised net profit after tax and amortisation (NPATA) rose by 17% to AU$1.6bn, driven by growth strategies and optimised cost structures across its business lines.
Additionally, EBITDA grew by 18.5% to reach AU$2.47bn, and EBITDA margin rose from 33.1% to 37.4%, underscoring a focus on cost control and operational leverage.
The report also highlighted the company’s focus on shareholder returns as part of its capital management strategy. In FY24, Aristocrat returned a total of AU$1.3bn to shareholders through dividends and on-market share buybacks, with a final dividend of AU$0.42 per share bringing total dividends for the year to AU$0.78 per share – a 22% increase over the prior period.
Aristocrat Gaming, which operates in North America, was a major contributor to these positive results. The division’s installed base grew by around 7,100 units, bringing its total units to over 71,000.
North America remained a profitable region more generally for Aristocrat, with margins in this market rising to 58.9%, supported by a high fee per day for each unit and additional expansions into video lottery terminal markets in Quebec and new territories like Georgia.
Aristocrat’s digital division, Pixel United, achieved flat year-on-year revenue but maintained strong profitability, with AU$1.75bn in bookings and a margin increase to 36%.
For the first time, Pixel United’s social casino segment exceeded $1bn in annual bookings, led by the continued popularity of titles such as ‘Raid: Shadow Legends,’ which recently surpassed $2bn in lifetime bookings.
Aristocrat Interactive also posted positive results, reporting an 85% increase in revenue (in constant currency), propelled by organic growth in iGaming platforms and expansion in North American and European markets.
With recent acquisitions of NeoGames and Roxor, Aristocrat is poised for continued growth in the iLottery and iGaming sectors, supported by partnerships with major operators in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Commenting on the company’s future off the back of these results, Aristocrat's CEO and Managing Director, Trevor Croker, stated: “Looking ahead, we continue to see strong momentum in our core business as we focus on portfolio performance and seek to capture the significant strategic opportunities in front of us.
“We are committed to our capital management strategy and our ongoing on-market share buy-back program, and to implementing the outcomes of the strategic review of the group’s casual and mid-core gaming assets.”
