Investing.com — Shares of Sage Group (LON:) PLC surged over 19% on the back of strong full-year 2024 results, which exceeded market expectations in key metrics, and a confident outlook for fiscal year 2025, on Wednesday.
The software company reported organic revenue growth of 9.2%, reaching £2,332 million, closely aligning with consensus estimates of 9.1%.
The strong finish to the year was bolstered by an underlying adjusted EBIT of £529 million, representing a margin of 22.7%—comfortably beating consensus of £511 million and 21.8%, respectively.
Cloud-native revenues emerged as a standout, growing by 22% organically to £732 million, now accounting for 31% of total revenue.
This segment’s performance reflects Sage’s strategic pivot to cloud solutions, positioning it for sustained growth in a competitive market.
Meanwhile, annual recurring revenue climbed by 10.5%, indicating resilient demand for subscription-based services, though this was slightly lower than the 10.8% mid-year figure.
By region, North America led the charge with 12% organic growth, supported by the Intacct product line, which expanded by 24%.
However, the pace slowed in the second half to 21% from 27% in the first, signaling some regional variability. Europe and the UK posted steady growth of 6% and 7%, respectively.
Sage also highlighted a notable increase in free cash flow, reaching £498 million, up from £390 million in the prior year, bolstered by strong working capital inflows.
The company’s FY25 guidance for organic revenue growth “at 9% or above” was particularly well-received by the market. Analysts at UBS said that this forecast aligns with consensus estimates of 9.1%.
Additionally, the company hinted at improving operating margins, with expectations to “trend upwards,” building on the 22.7% achieved this year.
The announcement of a £400 million share buyback program further lifted sentiment, reflecting Sage’s solid financial health and commitment to returning capital to shareholders. With net debt at £738 million, equivalent to 1.2x EBITDA, the company appears well-positioned to balance growth investments with shareholder returns.
Sage’s ongoing investment in AI, including the testing of its Sage Copilot tool with 8,000 customers, also resonated with investors, as it highlights the company’s ambition to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving business software landscape.
The combination of these factors—the beat on EBIT and margins, solid cloud-native growth, and a favorable FY25 outlook—has driven the stock’s sharp rise, reflecting renewed confidence in Sage’s ability to deliver sustainable growth.
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