Aristocrat posts NPATA of AUD1.49bn as full-year profit tops US$1.02bn

Aristocrat Leisure Ltd reported NPATA from continuing operations of AUD1.49 billion (US$1.02 billion) for the 12 months to 30 September, a 13.6% year-on-year increase, the Australia-listed slot machine maker and digital content provider said in a Thursday filing to the Australian Securities Exchange. On a constant-currency basis the company said NPATA rose 22.3%.

The board authorised a final unfranked dividend of AUD0.51 per share, amounting to AUD302 million based on shares issued at the date of the financial statements, payable on 8 December; that brings the full-year dividend to AUD1.01 per share, up 8.6% from a year earlier.

Financials in brief

Statutory profit after tax from continuing operations rose 15.2% to AUD1.36 billion. Revenue from continuing operations fell 3.2% year-on-year to AUD6.09 billion. Normalised EBITDA from continuing operations was essentially flat at just under AUD2.64 billion. The company noted normalised results exclude discontinued operations.

Net debt stood at AUD1.13 billion as of 30 September, up from AUD423.3 million a year earlier; net debt was 0.4 times consolidated EBITDA, up from 0.2 times a year earlier. Aristocrat said on-market share buy-backs reduced its cash balances.

Segment performance and market positions

Aristocrat described three main segments: Gaming (land-based casino equipment and content); Product Madness (social gaming products); and Interactive (gaming systems, iLottery, iGaming and sports, iGaming white-label, and content and aggregation). Plarium, the mobile games business sold in the prior financial year, is classified as a discontinued operation.

Aristocrat Gaming posted revenue of AUD4.02 billion, up 1.5% year-on-year, with segment profit rising 2.2% to AUD2.21 billion. The group's North American installed base grew by about 6,500 units to nearly 82,000, taking its share of that market to 39%, the company said.

Revenue in Aristocrat Gaming’s “rest of the world” business rose 3.7% to AUD844.2 million, with segment profit up 10.3% to AUD379.0 million. Outside Australia and New Zealand, unit sales fell slightly due to lower volumes in Latin America while average selling price rose 8%, driven mainly by the mix of cabinets sold in Asia.

Product Madness delivered social casino revenue of US$1.08 billion, up 2.2%, and segment profit of US$521.4 million, up 7.0%. Direct-to-consumer sales represented 27% of social casino revenue for the year and rose to 30% in the second half.

Aristocrat Interactive recorded revenue, including its share of joint-venture revenue, of US$457.2 million, a 3.4% increase, while segment profit fell 6.2% to US$122.6 million. The company attributed the margin decline to its exit from the white-label business and acquisition-related investment.

Management and outlook

Trevor Croker, Aristocrat's chief executive and managing director, said the company had gained market share across key segments and channels and pointed to product launches providing momentum into the financial year 2027.

"We delivered a high-quality result driven by our leading content and exceptional execution, resulting in market share gains across key segments and channels," Croker said in prepared remarks.

"Second half product launches across Gaming and Interactive are providing clear momentum into financial year 2027, while Product Madness continues to deliver growth in a declining market," he added.

In a separate announcement on Thursday, Aristocrat said Mr Croker intends to retire in April 2027. The board has named Dafne Guisard as CEO-elect to succeed him, subject to any necessary regulatory pre-approvals.

The company said it expects NPATA to grow in constant-currency terms in the financial year to 30 September 2027, citing expected market-share gains at Aristocrat Gaming and Product Madness and further expansion in online gaming content and iLottery at Aristocrat Interactive.

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