Metrofile Holdings Limited, a leading provider of physical and digital document management solutions, released its unaudited summarised group interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2023. The company reported a decrease in profits compared to the same period last year.
Financial Performance Overview
Metrofile’s revenue saw a marginal increase of 2% to R577 million for the period ending December 2023, up from R564 million in the previous year. However, despite the revenue growth, the company witnessed a decline in both EBITDA and operating profit, which fell by 4% and 5% respectively. Earnings per share (EPS) and headline earnings per share (HEPS) also experienced a notable decrease of 13% to 13 cents.
| Financial Metric | 31 Dec 2023 (R’000) | 31 Dec 2022 (R’000) |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 577,047 | 564,056 |
| EBITDA | 159,760 | 166,028 |
| Operating Profit | 111,467 | 117,953 |
| EPS (cents) | 13.0 | 15.0 |
| HEPS (cents) | 13.0 | 15.0 |
| DPS (cents) | 7.0 | 9.0 |
Challenges and Factors Impacting Performance
The company attributed the decrease in profits to several factors, including a softer market demand for products, services, and digital solutions during the second quarter of the financial year. Additionally, an increase in finance costs, mainly due to higher interest rates, put further pressure on earnings.
Internal process challenges within Metrofile’s scanning centres in MRM SA also contributed to a decrease in operating profit. The challenges have since been addressed, with management anticipating operational improvements in the second half of the financial year.
Operational Review
Despite the overall decrease in profits, Metrofile’s operations in various regions showed mixed results. Revenue from MRM South Africa increased slightly by 1%, while MRM Rest of Africa experienced a 7% decrease in revenue. The Middle East region, on the other hand, saw a significant 28% increase in revenue.
Outlook and Strategic Focus
Looking ahead, Metrofile remains focused on growing its subscription-based business, particularly in the digital sector. The company plans to invest in digital assets and expand its services to other geographies to achieve sustainable growth. While the economic environment remains challenging, Metrofile expects positive results from its operational interventions.
Dividend Declaration
Despite the decline in profits, Metrofile declared an interim cash dividend of 7 cents per share. The dividend will be payable from income reserves to shareholders recorded in the books of the company on Friday, 5 April 2024.
Conclusion
Metrofile Holdings Limited’s interim results reflect a challenging period marked by softer market demand and increased finance costs. However, with strategic interventions and a focus on digital growth, the company aims to navigate these challenges and drive sustainable profitability in the future.
