TOP NEWS: Avast raises 2020 dividend as revenue and profit grow

(Alliance News) - Avast PLC on Wednesday reported 2020 billings increase in line with company ...

Alliance News 3 March, 2021 | 10:03AM
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(Alliance News) - Avast PLC on Wednesday reported 2020 billings increase in line with company consensus and raised its annual dividend payout.

The Prague-headquartered digital security and privacy products provider said its adjusted billings for 2020 rose 7.1% on an organic basis to USD922.0 million. Company-compiled consensus put adjusted billings for 2020 at USD931.6 million, just above the actual result.

Revenue for 2020 saw an organic growth of 7.9% to USD892.9 million, driven by double-digit growth in its Consumer Direct Desktop business. This increase is in line with company expectations, as consensus put revenue at USD890.3 million for the year.

While the firm booked an 'other' finance expense of USD64.0 million versus income of USD9.7 million the year before, pretax profit slipped to USD436.7 million from USD400.1 million in 2019. This is just above company consensus of USD432.2 million.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation rose 2.6% to USD495.5 million, in line with expectations as Avast's consensus put 2020 adjusted Ebitda at USD492.9 million.

Due to these increases, the company proposed a final dividend of 11.2 cents per share, bringing the total dividend for the year to 16.0 cents, up 8.8%.

Shares in Avast were down 3.5% at 448.20 pence in London on Wednesday.

"The group delivered another strong year of top line organic growth, high levels of profitability and cash flow generation. In a year when more people and businesses turned to technology to keep their lives and their work enabled, Avast has played a vital role in safeguarding our customers' digital data and privacy. I am proud of the way the company has met the challenge of the pandemic head on, putting our duty to act as a responsible business at the heart of our approach," said Chief Executive Ondrej Vlcek.

Looking ahead, Avast said it remains confident that the strengths of its business model and driving performance will maintain its track record of good growth and profitability.

"Underpinned by a strong prior year billings performance, we expect to deliver financial 2021 organic revenue growth in the range of 6% to 8%," said Avast. This compares to organic growth of 7.9% for 2020.

By Zoe Wickens; zoewickens@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.

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