Aristocrat aided by digital performance to deliver positive H1 earnings

Australia-based Aristocrat Leisure has released its financial report for the first half of the financial year 2021, indicating that in the six months up to the end of March, it made a revenue of A$2.23 billion (€1.41 billion), a slight decrease on the 2020 figure.

The game supplier said that on a constant currency basis, revenue was 10.7 per cent higher than the prior period, due to a strong operational performance in Digital, Americas and ANZ Gaming, but partly offset by the continued closure of international markets.

Year-on-year, the company stated that digital revenue during the period increased by 14.3 per cent to A$1.19 billion (€0.75 billion).

Aristocrat Digital had a favourable half year, achieving seven games in the US top 100 over the period.

Aristocrat's normalised profit after tax was broadly in line with its results from H1 2019, reflecting the growth in digital, but being partially offset by unfavourable foreign exchange movements which cost an estimated A$52 million (€33 million).

During the period, the company said it continued to invest significantly in talent and technology in its drive to deliver competitive products across a range of segments.

R&D investments remained at 11 per cent.

Company Chief Executive Trevor Croker commented: "The outstanding momentum we've delivered this half reflects our unwavering focus on the things we can control, which lies at the heart of our proven growth strategy".

"The results are reflected in the share growth and margin expansion achieved across Digital and key Gaming segments in the six months to 31st March 2021", he added.